The Collective Movement (TCM), a civic advocacy group, has commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for acknowledging the technical challenges that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and for the decisive steps taken to address them.
In a statement issued by Edwin Nwachukwu, National Media Director of TCM, the group described the Board’s decision to reschedule exams for affected candidates as a welcome demonstration of transparency and fairness—qualities essential to the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
“This development, though unprecedented, reflects a strong commitment to institutional accountability,” Nwachukwu stated. “For candidates in regions such as the South East, Lagos, and Oyo State—where irregularities were particularly pronounced—this move offers both relief and reassurance that the system is being strengthened.”
TCM praised Prof. Oloyede’s candour in taking responsibility and noted that such leadership helps reinforce public trust. The statement also referenced past controversies, including the 2023 UTME case involving Mmesoma Ejikeme, suggesting that the present openness might warrant a more nuanced national conversation about systemic reform and fairness.
“Our position has always been that Nigeria’s challenges are less about ethnicity and more about institutional dysfunction—gaps in infrastructure, oversight, and trust,” Nwachukwu said.
He added that JAMB’s willingness to address its shortcomings offers hope that public institutions can evolve for the better.
To build on the progress, TCM is calling on JAMB to commission an independent audit of the 2023 and 2025 UTME cycles and to modernise its digital infrastructure with transparency and resilience at its core.
“The rescheduled exams are a commendable step, but deeper reforms are needed. The future of Nigeria’s education system rests on a shared commitment to equity, accountability, and opportunity for all,” the statement concluded.