JAMB has announced a new round of mop-up examinations for candidates who were unable to take part in the just-concluded 2025 UTME. According to the Board, this opportunity will cover more than 5.6% of registered candidates who missed the exams, regardless of the reasons for their absence.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday. He explained that this decision was taken to ensure that no candidate is left behind due to unforeseen circumstances.

Professor Oloyede emphasized that the UTME is a placement test, not a test of intelligence or a student’s overall academic potential. He clarified that the primary purpose of the examination is to rank candidates for the limited number of available admission slots in tertiary institutions.

Responding to public criticism and speculations about the conduct of the exam, Oloyede strongly denied any form of ethnic bias or mismanagement. “I take responsibility, not because I failed, but because that’s leadership. We must rise above ethnic profiling and misinformation,” he stated.

JAMB has assured the public that the date for the special mop-up exam will be announced soon. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, equity, and transparency in the admissions process.