2025 UTME: Software glitch, not Oloyede, to blame for poor performance — Ilaro Poly Rector
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr. Mukail Akinde, has attributed the low performance of candidates in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to software malfunctions, not the fault of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
Speaking with reporters in his office over the weekend, Akinde emphasised that no human-made technology is flawless.
He urged Nigerians to acknowledge the inevitability of Computer-Based Tests (CBT), noting that such systems are susceptible to occasional technical issues.
The rector commended Professor Oloyede’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s education system and eliminate long-standing examination malpractices.
He added that while the percentage of candidates scoring between 160 and 199 (50.29%) might appear high, it is not unusual and should be viewed in context.
According to Akinde, the overall conduct of UTME has seen significant improvement under the current JAMB leadership.
“The performance of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over years before Prof Oloyede from 2018 to 2024 on the average, of candidates who scored between 139 to 119 was 78.3%.
“For us in academics, we talk with statistics, this year’s result is not a failure, it was a good result.
“Now about technology, there is no fully satisfied technology in the whole world. You are talking about an automated centre, software can malfunction at any time without human intervention.
“You will recall that when Professor Oloyede came in as the Executive Registrar of JAMB, his intervention has been to redirect JAMB in ensuring that candidates are exposed to modern technology, not only that, the examination body which was at the verge of been scrapped due to its level of ridiculous irregularity has become something that is not common again.
“Moreso, the Registrar, Professor Oloyede has taken full responsibility, for the first time, I am seeing in this country that we have a leader, even though the glitches were minor, he has taken responsibility unlike leaders in Africa who were known for shifting blame.
“Not only that, he has given such candidates the opportunity to rewrite the examination.
“Before this incident, I am aware Nigerians were all proud of Professor Ishaq Oloyede because he was able to reposition JAMB to be an Institution that is one of the best in Nigeria, so, now that the so-called glitch occurs, it is naivety on the part of some people to call for his sanction.
“For us at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, considering the cumulative performance of the Registrar, yes it’s painful that some candidates were affected, the good news is that Professor Ishaq Oloyede has also given the opportunity to this set of candidates to rewrite the examination.”
Dr. Akinde, however, dismissed claims that the poor performance of many candidates in the 2025 UTME was due to unfamiliarity with computer operations.
He argued that such claims hold little merit, noting that candidates were adequately prepared through mock examinations and that detailed instructions were displayed on their computer screens during the test.
“There were no ambiguities,” Dr. Akinde stated. “Candidates were given step-by-step guidelines, and they had no choice but to read and understand them before attempting the questions.”
Corroborating this, Mr. Ismail Odeyemi, who oversaw the CBT centre at the Polytechnic, explained that the examination interface was designed to be user-friendly.
He said candidates were prompted multiple times before final submission, and trained supervisors were on hand to assist anyone facing technical difficulties.
“JAMB has simplified the process. Each candidate had access to a keyboard and mouse. When an option is selected, the corresponding alphabet changes colour from red to green—it’s self-explanatory,” Odeyemi said. “In addition, rough answer sheets were provided with clearly written instructions.”
Frank Ajibodu, the institution’s technical officer, added that JAMB mandated a five-minute orientation at the start of each session, during which supervisors guided candidates on how to navigate the interface, select answers, and submit their responses.
He attributed some of the challenges to exam anxiety, commonly known as “examiphobia”, a condition that, he said, predates the CBT era and also existed during the traditional paper-and-pencil method.
Concluding, Dr. Akinde urged parents to take a more active role in supervising their children’s study habits.
He advised against secondary school students owning mobile phones, stressing that time spent on devices should instead be dedicated to academic preparation.
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