Chidoka Commends JAMB for Integrity, Empathy as UTME Is Rescheduled in 157 Centres

Former Minister of Aviation and public policy advocate, Osita Chidoka, has praised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its rare display of accountability and empathy following widespread technical failures that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 157 centres.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chidoka lauded JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for offering a public apology and taking full responsibility for the disruptions that affected 379,997 candidates across six states; Lagos, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu.

“The Registrar General of JAMB has taken responsibility and offered an emotional and heartfelt apology to the nation over the technical failure,” Chidoka noted. “Unlike many public agencies that deflect blame, JAMB did not say ‘Go to court.’”

The affected candidates will retake the UTME between Friday, May 16 and Monday, May 19, 2025. The rescheduling was done in consultation with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which is conducting its own exams simultaneously.

Chidoka, who leads the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, emphasized the importance of institutional integrity and urged other public bodies to emulate JAMB’s example. He assured the affected students of public support and wished them success in the upcoming retest.

“At Athena Centre, we will continue to use data and evidence to hold institutions accountable,” he stated.

This latest development follows growing public concern over mass failures in the 2025 UTME, with over 75% of candidates scoring below 200 out of 400.