The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed a disturbing case of examination malpractice involving a visually impaired candidate who orchestrated an impersonation scheme during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In an unusual twist, the impersonator was also blind—an undergraduate recruited to write the exam on behalf of the original candidate.
This revelation was made by JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, during a media briefing held in Abuja on Friday. Professor Oloyede expressed disappointment over the incident, noting that it was particularly disheartening given the extensive efforts JAMB continues to make to support candidates living with disabilities in their pursuit of higher education.
According to him, the board has invested significantly in creating an inclusive and enabling environment for visually impaired candidates through the work of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), chaired by Professor Peter Okebukola. The group oversees the conduct of UTME for blind candidates across dedicated centres nationwide.
Professor Oloyede disclosed that in the 2025 UTME exercise, 501 blind candidates were accommodated and examined in 11 designated centres across Nigeria. These candidates were not only provided with the necessary academic support but also received complete refunds of their registration fees, along with provisions for transportation, lodging, and meals.
“Despite all these efforts to ensure inclusivity and fairness, we were shocked to discover that one of the blind candidates went as far as hiring another blind undergraduate to impersonate him in the examination. This is not only unfortunate but a betrayal of the support system put in place to help them succeed,” Oloyede stated.
Meanwhile, JAMB also announced the official release of the 2025 UTME results. Out of the over 1.9 million candidates who sat for the examination, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 marks—the midpoint in the UTME’s total score of 400. The examination, which evaluates candidates in four subjects, includes the mandatory Use of English and three others selected based on the candidate’s chosen course of study.
Commenting on the broader implications of the result statistics, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the performance reflects the effectiveness of the government’s recent clampdown on exam malpractice. He emphasized that the measures implemented have contributed to preserving the credibility and integrity of Nigeria’s educational assessment systems.
As JAMB continues to tighten its monitoring mechanisms and foster inclusivity, the board is urging candidates, particularly those in vulnerable categories, to reciprocate its goodwill by upholding ethical conduct and avoiding actions that could undermine the integrity of the examination process.
