Oby Ezekwesili Slams JAMB and Education Ministry Over 2025 UTME Technical Glitch

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has strongly criticised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Federal Ministry of Education over their handling of the technical malfunction that affected the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Her remarks followed the public apology offered by JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who became visibly emotional while addressing the issue at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The malfunction, which led to irregular UTME results for many candidates—particularly in the South East—has raised serious concerns about the integrity and preparedness of the examination body. Professor Oloyede confirmed that affected students would be allowed to retake the examination, but his apology has not been enough to pacify critics who say the damage runs deeper than a simple technical glitch.

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“Ezekwesili Demands Accountability in UTME Malfunction Scandal”

Reacting via her verified 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Ezekwesili questioned the initial response of the education authorities when anomalies in the UTME results were first observed. She expressed disappointment at what she described as the authorities’ dismissive attitude towards early complaints raised by candidates and their families.

“Why could the authorities not have immediately acted with humility and done an unbiased and swift system check once unusual trends emerged, instead of immediately impugning citizens who expressed concern?” she asked pointedly in her post.

Ezekwesili further condemned what she viewed as a lack of professionalism and transparency in the response by both JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education. She criticized their reliance on anecdotal and non-evidence-based explanations, particularly concerning the unusual score patterns observed in the five South East states.

“The Ministry of Education and JAMB were embarrassingly anecdotal in their pejorative non-evidence-based explanation of the significantly unusual results of candidates in the five South East States predominantly,” she wrote.

Her comments have reignited a national conversation about the credibility of the country’s examination systems and the need for robust reforms to restore public trust.

“A History of Advocacy: Continuity in Ezekwesili’s Critique”

Dr. Ezekwesili’s recent comments are not isolated. She backed her criticisms with screenshots of previous posts she had made in 2018 and 2023, showing a consistent record of holding education authorities accountable.

In one of the shared tweets dated July 2018, she lashed out at the then Minister of Education under President Buhari’s administration, faulting the focus on JAMB’s revenue remittance rather than addressing deeper systemic issues.

“If I were President and my Minister of Education concerned herself with the ‘revenue & remittance’ of the Exam body, JAMB, rather than fixing the Integrity & Competence Testing of the Exam System, Process & Infrastructure, I would immediately REASSIGN her to Airport Toll Gate,” she tweeted at the time.

The second post recalled her involvement in the controversial 2023 case involving Anambra student Mmesoma Ejikeme, who was accused by JAMB of manually inflating her UTME score. Then, too, Ezekwesili had called for an independent technical investigation to clarify the facts.

“This saga between Mmesoma Ejikeme and @JAMBHQ requires an Independent Tech investigation to unearth all facts,” she said. “Listening to her in this video, it is reasonable to request a forensic investigation to help reveal what really happened. I have reached out to the Registrar of JAMB.”

By highlighting these past interventions, Ezekwesili reinforced her long-standing position on the need for integrity, professionalism, and transparency in the management of national examinations.

“Public Pressure Mounts as Calls for Reform Grow Louder”

Ezekwesili’s critique has found resonance with many Nigerians, especially parents and students who are increasingly frustrated with the repeated failures and lack of accountability in the education sector. Many have taken to social media to express support for her position and to demand an independent investigation into the 2025 UTME malfunction.

Analysts believe that this latest episode could serve as a turning point for public education reforms if the federal government treats the matter with the seriousness it deserves. Already, civil society organisations and advocacy groups are calling for a review of JAMB’s technological infrastructure and an overhaul of oversight mechanisms within the Ministry of Education.

While Professor Oloyede’s emotional apology may have demonstrated a rare moment of public contrition, Ezekwesili insists that what the country needs now is not sentiment but systemic change. Her message is clear: the credibility of Nigeria’s education system is too important to be compromised by avoidable errors and poor leadership.