The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that 6,458 results from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are under investigation for suspected high-tech cheating.
JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, inaugurated a 23-member special committee in Abuja on Monday to probe these cases. He stated how exam fraud has evolved from traditional methods to sophisticated technology-driven malpractices, involving biometric and identity fraud at some accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. The new committee will focus on serious infractions like image blending, false claims of albinism, finger pairing, and attempts to hack CBT centre networks.
Prof. Oloyede emphasized the urgency of the investigation, requesting the committee to report its findings within three weeks to ensure those cleared can proceed with admissions before deadlines close. He stressed that examination malpractice damages Nigeria’s integrity and development, describing the fight against it as a national priority.
The committee, chaired by Dr. Jake Epele, includes academics, security officials, and representatives from Microsoft Africa and student bodies. Dr. Epele called the task “a sacred one” to protect exam credibility and uphold merit.
In line with this crackdown, the Federal Government has mandated a strict three-year ban on any student caught cheating in national exams, including JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB. This policy, announced in May 2025 by the Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, will be enforced using the National Identification Number system. Schools and CBT centres found complicit face derecognition, aiming to end the influence of “miracle centres” that facilitate cheating.
This stronger enforcement seeks to restore trust in Nigeria’s education system and deter students and parents from engaging in or supporting malpractice.
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