Nigerians React to JAMB Glitch as Registrar Ishaq Oloyede Breaks Down in Tears on Live TV

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has come under intense scrutiny following widespread technical glitches that affected the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The situation escalated when JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, broke down in tears during a live press conference, publicly apologizing for the errors that disrupted the examination process.

During the press briefing, Prof. Oloyede admitted that over 379,997 candidates across Lagos and the South-East states were impacted by the glitches, which led to the rescheduling of their examinations. He described the situation as an unfortunate case of sabotage, taking full responsibility for the distress caused to affected candidates.

The emotional apology has sparked mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some praised the transparency of JAMB’s leadership, others criticized the board for failing to prevent the errors in the first place. Many candidates and parents have expressed frustration over the mandatory rescheduling of exams, arguing that the board should instead release the original results rather than forcing students to retake the test.

Social media platforms have been flooded with calls for accountability, with some Nigerians demanding Prof. Oloyede’s resignation over the incident. Others have raised concerns about the integrity of JAMB’s examination system, urging the government to implement reforms to prevent future failures.

In response to the backlash, JAMB has assured the public that affected candidates will receive text messages with details of their rescheduled exams starting tomorrow[ The board has also coordinated with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to minimize disruptions for students currently sitting for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).