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The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has addressed recent criticisms from Peter Obi regarding the scheduling of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
On Sunday, April 27, Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account to express concern over JAMB’s alleged requirement for admission-seeking teenagers to travel in the early hours of the morning to sit for their exams. He criticized the practice of requiring students, many between the ages of 15 and 17, to be present at unfamiliar exam centers as early as 6:30 am, especially in the context of widespread insecurity across the country.
Obi described the situation as “reckless,” noting that there were already reports of accidents, missing students, and trauma caused by the early travel requirements.
“Teenagers, mostly 15–17 years old, were forced to travel in the dark, across dangerous and unfamiliar locations, just to access their right to education and sit for JAMB examinations,” Obi wrote. “Setting exams for vulnerable teenagers as early as 6:00 am is reckless. Reports are already emerging of accidents, missing students, and needless trauma. Who takes responsibility when a child disappears or is harmed while trying to get an education?”
He further described the incident as symptomatic of a broader systemic failure in Nigeria’s education and governance structures.
In response, JAMB issued a brief statement clarifying the exam schedule. The body firmly denied Obi’s claims, stating that no exams were scheduled for 6:00 am. According to JAMB, the 2025 UTME exams are officially set to commence at 8:00 am, while candidates are required to arrive at 6:30 am for necessary verification and clearance procedures.
JAMB’s statement aimed to reassure the public that the board remains committed to the safety and welfare of all candidates and that the early arrival requirement is purely for administrative processing ahead of the 8:00 am exam start time.
