The Lagos State Area Unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN Lagos) has lauded the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, for his rare display of transparency and accountability following the technical disruptions that marred the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Speaking at a press briefing held in Lagos on Wednesday, MSSN Lagos commended Prof. Oloyede for publicly admitting the lapses that affected over 379,000 UTME candidates across 157 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide. The students’ body described the Registrar’s candid apology and swift response in rescheduling the exams as a commendable gesture, which it noted was uncommon in Nigeria’s education sector.
According to the group, Oloyede’s prompt action—particularly his decision to reschedule the exams for the affected candidates on Friday and Saturday, and his frank disclosure of the failure on the part of one of JAMB’s technical service providers—demonstrated a level of responsible leadership and commitment to transparency that should be emulated across public institutions.
Nonetheless, MSSN Lagos insisted that while the Registrar’s openness is appreciated, it must not end with apologies. The organisation emphasised that responsibility should be matched with consequences, stressing that centres found to have acted negligently or breached JAMB’s operational procedures should be sanctioned without delay.
“We sincerely commend Professor Oloyede’s forthrightness and concern for the welfare of Nigerian students,” the statement read in part. “However, we maintain that such apologies should not shield those whose incompetence or negligence disrupted the future of many candidates. Centres that failed to deliver should be delisted immediately, and individuals found culpable must face legal or disciplinary action in line with established protocols.”
In another development tied to the 2025 UTME, MSSN Lagos expressed strong support for Miss Lawal Hameedat Adenike, a female Muslim candidate who has initiated legal action against JAMB and the PEFTI CBT Centre in Ibadan. Hameedat alleges that she was compelled to remove her hijab before being allowed to participate in the examination on April 25, 2025.
Amir (President) of MSSN Lagos, Kamoldeen Abiona, condemned the reported incident, describing it as an infringement on the candidate’s constitutional rights. He argued that the action violated Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and protection against discrimination.
“Forcing a Muslim girl to take off her hijab under the guise of exam security is not only unconstitutional but also traumatising,” Abiona stated. “It reeks of religious profiling and discrimination, which have no place in a multi-religious, democratic society such as ours. The hijab is not a contraband item; it is a symbol of modesty and religious identity.”
The Society called on JAMB to launch an independent probe into the matter and issue clear guidelines to all CBT centres across the country, ensuring that female Muslim candidates are not harassed, profiled, or denied their rights to dress modestly during exams.
“No student should have to choose between her faith and her education,” MSSN Lagos maintained. “The notion that wearing the hijab compromises examination integrity is flawed and prejudiced. Education and modesty can and must co-exist in a functional society.”
As the case filed by Hameedat’s legal representatives gains national traction, MSSN Lagos reiterated its call for JAMB to enforce stricter compliance measures among its partners and examination centres. The group further urged the examination body to implement reforms that safeguard both the integrity of the UTME and the dignity of all candidates, regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds.
While reaffirming its support for the current JAMB leadership under Prof. Oloyede, MSSN Lagos concluded by urging the Board to sustain the principles of fairness, accountability, and religious tolerance in administering future examinations.
KIIN360 reports that the 2025 UTME has been marred by a number of controversies, from technical malfunctions to rights violations, sparking widespread debate on the need for reform in Nigeria’s examination and admissions system.
