The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has firmly denied allegations of ethnic bias and discrimination against candidates of Igbo origin in the recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The rebuttal follows claims circulating on social media and other platforms suggesting that Igbo candidates were unfairly treated or deliberately scored lower in the national exam.
In a press briefing held at the JAMB headquarters in Abuja, Prof. Oloyede described the allegations as “baseless, unfounded, and an unfortunate attempt to politicize an entirely transparent and automated process.” He emphasized that the UTME scoring and evaluation system is fully computerized, free from human interference, and operates with strict adherence to fairness and equity for all candidates, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or region.
“Let me state categorically that there is no iota of truth in the allegations making the rounds,” the Registrar said. “Our system is designed to ensure equal opportunity for every Nigerian child. The examination is centrally processed, and candidates’ scripts are marked by machines without any input from human beings. We find it worrisome that some individuals would seek to sow seeds of division using false narratives.”
JAMB provided data to support its stance, showing performance trends across various regions of the country, which indicated no pattern of systemic bias. Officials also reiterated the board’s commitment to transparency by inviting independent observers and stakeholders to audit the processes if necessary.