Popular Nollywood actress Mary Njoku has stirred public discourse on Nigeria’s education system, questioning the necessity of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) in determining eligibility for university admission.
Sharing her thoughts via Instagram, the filmmaker asked why the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), a statutory certification for completing secondary education, isn’t considered sufficient for entry into Nigerian universities.
“Why is it necessary to take the JAMB exam to gain admission into universities? Isn’t the SSCE sufficient?” Njoku queried. “I don’t understand the need for JAMB plus post-JAMB when the SSCE already shows we’ve completed secondary school.”
Her comment comes at a time of heightened public scrutiny of JAMB’s credibility, following widespread complaints of irregularities and mass failure in the recently concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to official data from the examination body, out of the 1.98 million candidates who registered for the 2025 UTME, only 24 per cent scored 200 and above out of a possible 400. This figure represents a significant decline from the 2024 session, where over 34 per cent of candidates attained scores above 200.
JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, acknowledged anomalies in the conduct and results of the 2025 exercise. He confirmed that 157 out of 882 examination centres recorded technical or procedural errors, leading to the distortion of results for a significant number of candidates.
“We discovered certain irregularities in the transmission and processing of scores in these centres,” Oloyede said. “As a result, we have scheduled a resit for 379,997 affected candidates starting Friday, 16 May.”
The decision to conduct a retake comes after intense backlash from parents, educators, and civil society organisations who alleged systemic flaws and demanded transparency.
Established in 1978, JAMB was created to centralise the university admission process and standardise assessment. Over the decades, however, it has faced growing criticism for redundancy and inefficiency, especially in light of emerging technologies and institutional autonomy.
The post-UTME was introduced in 2005 after universities pushed for more control over their admissions process, citing concerns over the integrity of JAMB’s exams. This additional screening layer has since compounded frustrations among students and guardians, many of whom describe the process as burdensome and exploitative.
However, the broader debate regarding the relevance of the SSCE as a standalone qualification for university admission continues to be a significant topic in Nigeria’s educational discourse. For instance, a study titled “The unintended consequences of high stakes testing for young people aspiring to higher education in Nigeria” by Jane Nebe discusses the pressures and implications of multiple examinations on students.
This research highlights the emotional and psychological toll that high-stakes testing, such as the UTME and Post-UTME, can have on students, suggesting a need to reassess the current admission processes.
Additionally, discussions around age requirements for examinations like the SSCE and UTME have been prevalent. The Nigerian government has considered implementing a minimum age of 18 for candidates taking these exams, aiming to ensure that students are adequately prepared for higher education. This policy has sparked debates about its potential impact on younger, academically capable students.
For thousands of affected candidates, the ongoing uncertainty presents a mental and emotional toll. Several candidates who spoke to Observers Times expressed fear that the delay could affect their chances of securing admission this year.
