UTME Is Not the Golden Key to University Admission — JAMB Registrar

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has reiterated that the Board should not be regarded as an examination body, explaining that its primary responsibility is to coordinate admissions into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

Oloyede made the clarification during the maiden edition of the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards held at the Civic Centre in Lagos, where seven outstanding undergraduates received a total of ₦35 million in awards.

Addressing participants at the event, the JAMB Registrar said many Nigerians have a wrong perception of the Board's responsibilities because it conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). According to him, the fact that JAMB organizes an examination does not make it an examination body in the same category as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

He explained that examinations are only one of the tools used by JAMB to assess candidates seeking admission into higher institutions. The Board's core mandate, he noted, is to facilitate a fair, transparent, and efficient admission process for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions.

Oloyede also expressed concern over the excessive importance attached to UTME scores by many candidates and parents. He explained that gaining admission into a tertiary institution is not determined by UTME performance alone, as institutions also consider other admission requirements before offering candidates admission.

According to him, a high UTME score does not automatically qualify a candidate for admission if essential requirements, such as the appropriate subject combination or other institutional conditions, are not met. He warned that celebrating outstanding UTME scores without considering these additional requirements could create a false impression about a candidate's admission prospects.

The JAMB Registrar further stated that the Board serves as a central admission clearing system, ensuring that candidates are fairly placed into institutions based on merit and each institution's admission criteria. He stressed that this responsibility goes beyond conducting examinations.

Oloyede added that JAMB will continue to enlighten the public on its statutory responsibilities to eliminate the widespread misconception that the Board exists solely to conduct examinations. He maintained that a better understanding of JAMB's admission-focused mandate would help Nigerians appreciate the complete admission process rather than judging candidates solely by their UTME scores.