The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended its decision to urgently reschedule the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 379,997 candidates.
The exam body cited unavoidable clashes with other national examinations and the need to maintain the academic calendar.
The rescheduled exam will start on Friday, May 16, 2025, for 379,997 candidates in five states of the South East and Lagos.
Speaking with THE WHISTLER, the JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, explained that if the examination were not scheduled at this time, it would conflict with other academic activities.
“If we don’t do it now, it will be in August. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) are writing their exams. After that, the National Examinations Council (NECO) would start, and then the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB),” Benjamin stated in a response to THE WHISTLER’s enquiry.
THE WHISTLER reported that Nigerians condemned the short notice given to candidates, citing concerns about the candidates’ ability to prepare for the exam adequately.
Some suggested that the exam should have been suspended until after the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to give candidates more time to prepare.
Others expressed concerns about Nigeria’s economic hardship, as some students might have to travel to different locations to take the examination.
