The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed that obtaining a high score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) may not automatically guarantee admission into Nigerian universities. In a statement issued on February 9, 2025, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, emphasized that admission decisions are based on multiple factors, including candidates’ O’level results, UTME scores, and post-UTME performance.
“A high UTME score alone does not secure admission. Universities consider various criteria, including ranking based on merit, catchment areas, and quotas for Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS),” the statement read.
JAMB’s response follows concerns from candidates and parents who allege that universities are denying admission to students despite their high UTME scores. For instance, a parent, Godwin Nsan, accused the University of Calabar of unfairly rejecting his son, who scored 201 in UTME but had an aggregate score of 34 percent, below the university’s minimum cut-off marks.
Similarly, another candidate with a UTME score of 345 accused the University of Jos (UniJos) of denying him admission. However, JAMB’s review revealed that the candidate ranked 86th, while the university could only admit 68 candidates on merit.
JAMB urged parents and candidates to understand the holistic admission process and seek clarification through appropriate channels rather than making unfounded allegations. The board also reminded candidates that they could challenge admission decisions through its official ‘ticketing platform’ and reiterated its commitment to a fair and transparent selection process.
