Widespread concern has trailed the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, with many Nigerians expressing shock and frustration over the poor performance of candidates.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released the results on Friday, revealing that over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200 out of a possible 400—sparking backlash on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter).
One user, Oluwaseun, shared a screenshot comparing a candidate’s stellar 2024 UTME score of 295 with a dismal 132 in this year’s exam. “Something is seriously wrong with the recently released UTME results,” he wrote. “These scores do not reflect the abilities, efforts, or track record of our students.”
Another user, Chukwuma Pius, a retired teacher, said the result sent to his daughter did not align with her expected performance. “This is devastating. Hard work rewarded this way? Please, there is a serious technical error with JAMB this year,” he posted.
The controversy has reignited calls for greater transparency in the exam body’s processes. Prominent voices, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, have weighed in. Obi described the results as “disturbing” and called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s educational assessment system.
