The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern warning, emphasizing its enhanced technology to detect all forms of examination malpractice, following the arrest of a father who attempted to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for his son.
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB Registrar, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the 2024 examination, which saw 1.94 million students participating.
Oloyede voiced his concern over cases of impersonation and the misuse of National Identity Numbers (NIN), stating, “For those who engage in cheating, they should know that it does not pay. Technology is helping us to check that…Across the country, most of the problem we have is impersonation.”
He also addressed the issue of individuals possessing multiple NINs, vowing to address this matter with the Identification Management body.
Highlighting the seriousness of examination malpractice, Oloyede recounted an incident involving a father impersonating his son during the exam. He questioned the rationale behind such actions, stating, “I can’t understand what the father will now tell his son when they are both locked up in the same cell.”
However, he refrained from disclosing the state where the incident occurred.
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Regarding examination challenges, Oloyede attributed most missed exams to logistical issues, such as overcrowded buses transporting students and external interference in exam scheduling. He criticized the involvement of third parties in exam registration and scheduling, urging candidates to communicate directly with JAMB.
Addressing the need for larger examination centers, Oloyede emphasized the importance of support from highly populated states like Lagos. He commended the Kaduna State Government for providing land and funding to build mega Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers, accommodating up to 4,000 candidates per day. He called for similar support from other states to replicate this success nationwide.
Expressing disappointment with the response from Lagos authorities, Oloyede stressed the urgency of establishing additional mega CBT centers across the country. He emphasized the benefits of such centers in alleviating examination challenges and urged state governments to provide the necessary land for their construction.
Also, Oloyede reiterated the importance of collaboration between JAMB and state governments to improve examination infrastructure and ensure a seamless testing experience for candidates nationwide.