80,000 candidates sit for rescheduled UTME – Official

On Saturday, the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was administered all over the country, and no fewer than 80,000 candidates participated.

Dr. Fabian Benjamin, who serves as the Head of Public Affairs and Protocol for JAMB, made this statement while observing the exercise on Saturday in Abuja.

Benjamin reported that approximately 80,000 candidates who were unable to take the 2023 UTME within their allotted time due to circumstances that were beyond their control participated in the rescheduled UTME across the country.

According to him, candidates who were affected include those who had their data verified at their centres but were still unable to take the exam, candidates who were unable to have their biometrics verified, and candidates whose data did not match up properly.

Benjamin stated that the implementation of innovations during the administration of the test was successful, as evidenced by the fact that the activity recorded the fewest number of reported cases of infractions.

Read Also: Northern CSOs Tell APC to Zone Senate President Office South-South

“The issue of examination malpractices was reduced to almost zero level in this year’s UTME,” he said. “I am very pleased with the results.”

Benjamin, when asked about the results of the rescheduled UTME, stated that the management of the board would evaluate the exercise’s conduct after it had been completed and make a decision based on their findings.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who also monitored the examination alongside the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has expressed satisfaction over the manner in which the rescheduled 2023 UTME has been carried out.

Adamu, who was present at a Computer Based Test (CBT) centre in Mambila Barracks, Asokoro, expressed his satisfaction with the way the exercise was carried out.

“I am very content with everything that I have observed. According to Adamu, both the (temporary) holding room (for candidates) and the arrangement in the conduct of the examination are in order.

The Minister, who stated that there were not any negative incidents recorded in the conduct of the UTME at the CBT centre, argued in favour of a temporary holding place for candidates who are waiting for the scheduled time of the exam to begin.

Read Also: May 29: Sam Amadi says it makes no sense to defend mandate after assuming power

“There shouldn’t be any issues; have you noticed anything out of the ordinary?” Adamu suggested that there should be training for those who work in the holding room because he believes that this will be the only change made to the facility.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced on May 2 the results of candidates who had previously participated in the examination, which had begun on April 25.