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The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has blacklisted six Computer-Based Test (CBT) officials for their involvement in exam malpractice during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration process. Professor Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB’s Registrar, made this announcement on Monday while speaking with journalists after inspecting several CBT centres in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Oloyede confirmed that the individuals, engaged from various institutions across the country, were caught in what he described as “blank registration” fraud. He emphasized that these officials have been permanently banned from participating in any future JAMB-conducted examinations. Their personal details are now under constant surveillance, and JAMB will monitor their activities even if they attain high positions, such as becoming professors or vice chancellors.
In a related development, one senior university official is currently facing prosecution for crimes related to admissions, while four others are under investigation and have been placed on a watchlist by JAMB.
The Registrar also revealed that ten institutions had been flagged for conducting candidate registrations during the night, violating the board’s regulations. These institutions have been warned not to repeat such acts. Additionally, he reiterated that CBT centres must not store the registration templates of candidates, emphasizing that such practices undermine the credibility of the process.
As of Monday afternoon, a total of 420,674 candidates had successfully registered for the 2025/2026 UTME. On just one day, 32,435 candidates registered, bringing the total for the first five days of registration to significant numbers. Furthermore, 124,632 candidates have already registered for the mock UTME, while 331 candidates participated in trial testing for the exams, even though they do not intend to apply for admission in Nigerian universities this year.
JAMB aims to register a total of two million candidates for this year’s UTME. However, Oloyede expressed concern over the rising number of underaged candidates. By Monday afternoon, 4,997 underaged registrants had been recorded, a situation he attributed to “selfish parents” who seek to boost their own resumes by fast-tracking their children’s education. He condemned this trend, stressing that children who are under the required age must sign an indemnity form, ensuring they can meet academic expectations, or face sanctions if they fail to perform.
Oloyede’s monitoring visits included centres at Kwara State College of Education, Al-Hikmah University, Socrates College, Matrix CBT Centre, and the University of Ilorin CBT Centre. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the registration, commending the efforts of the CBT centres, JAMB staff, and security agencies for ensuring a smooth and secure process.
In closing, Oloyede reiterated JAMB’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity in the examination process, warning that any form of malpractice would not be tolerated.
News Source: Punch
