UTME glitches: Obi, Ezekwesili, others worry over impact on students, parents

Obi

Notable Nigerians including 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, and ex-FRSC Corps Marshal Osita Chidoka, have reacted to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s, JAMB admission of errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME. While commending the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for owning up to the glitches, they expressed concern over the impact on students, parents, and the education system.

Obi: Don’t let glitches become a crisis

Peter Obi lauded Oloyede’s rare show of accountability but warned of the damage caused by technical failures.

“The emotional and psychological toll on students and their families is severe. In heartbreaking cases, it has even led to death. JAMB and other institutions must adopt rigorous quality assurance processes. Transparent communication and prompt resolution of issues are vital for public trust,” he said.

Ezekwesili: A national fiasco

Oby Ezekwesili described the situation as a “classic fiasco,” quoting Stephen Hawking: “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”

She criticized authorities for initially dismissing concerns instead of objectively examining the system. Activist Aisha Yesufu also condemned Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa for hastily attributing the mass failure to stricter exam standards without confirming the root cause.

Chidoka: Laudable JAMB didn’t say “Go to court”

Chidoka expressed relief that JAMB didn’t deflect blame or ask candidates to go to court.

“I commend JAMB for not taking the path of many public institutions. Instead of deflecting blame, it admitted fault, invited dialogue, and allowed external review. To affected students, I stand in solidarity with you,” he said.