The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has addressed criticisms from former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi regarding early examination schedules for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Peter Obi expressed concerns over reports that candidates, many of whom are teenagers, were required to arrive at examination centers as early as 6:30 a.m. He described this practice as “reckless,” citing incidents of students being involved in accidents, going missing, and experiencing psychological trauma. Obi emphasized that such scheduling endangers young students and reflects systemic issues within Nigeria’s education sector.
In response, JAMB clarified that while candidates are expected to arrive by 6:30 a.m. for verification and clearance processes, the actual examinations commence at 8:00 a.m. The board stated that early arrival is necessary to prevent late-coming, which could disrupt the examination process. JAMB emphasized that this structured timeline ensures candidates are adequately prepared and can perform to the best of their abilities.
JAMB further denied allegations of assigning candidates to examination centers outside their chosen towns, asserting that candidates select their preferred exam towns during registration, and the board strictly assigns centers within those towns.
This exchange highlights ongoing debates about examination logistics and student welfare in Nigeria’s education system.
