Urges Nigerians To Encourage Risk-Taking For Development, Warns Against ‘Lynching Attitude’
Dr. Fabian Benjamin, spokesperson for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has declined to name the technical service provider responsible for the glitch that affected the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), impacting approximately 380,000 candidates.
In an interview onArise News’Sunday Thisdaylive Show, Benjamin explained that JAMB’s investigation found the error was not deliberate but warned that naming the provider could deepen Nigeria’s sectional divides. The decision has sparked debate amid public demands for accountability following widespread complaints and the tragic suicide of a 19-year-old candidate.
Benjamin revealed that the glitch, caused by a service provider’s error in uploading responses, was detected after an unprecedented volume of complaints post-result release. “We noticed this year we were having much more than we’ve ever had,” he said, noting that JAMB’s proactive investigation began before external platforms like Educare amplified the issue. The board fast-tracked its annual review, engaging experts to confirm the error, which affected 65 centers in Lagos and over 90 in the Southeast. Resit exams were completed in the Southeast by May 17 and scheduled to conclude in Lagos by May 19.
On naming the provider, Benjamin emphasized caution to avoid fueling regional tensions. “By the time we mention these names, people will begin to look at it from sectional angles,” he stated, adding that JAMB aims to unify the nation. He noted the provider had delivered excellently for over nine years, and the error was neither malicious nor sabotage. “If you throw somebody overboard for every mistake, you may end up not having a system,” he argued, suggesting sanctions would be applied but not publicized to prevent public scapegoating. JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has taken full responsibility, urging the public to hold him accountable.
The controversy, which saw over 1.5 million of 1.9 million candidates score below 200, has fueled public outrage, with the hashtag #ThisIsNotMyResult trending on X. Benjamin expressed sympathy for the family of the deceased candidate, Timileyin Precious, calling her loss “regrettable” and pledging JAMB’s support. He defended the decision not to scrap the entire exam, stating that manual and electronic reviews confirmed the validity of results from unaffected centers.
Benjamin urged Nigerians to encourage leaders to take risks for development, warning that a “lynching attitude” toward setbacks could deter innovation. “We cannot jumpstart our development if we don’t dive into the unknown,” he said, referencing JAMB’s shift to a single-item delivery system aimed at improving exams. JAMB is cooperating with a House of Representatives investigation and remains committed to restoring public trust through transparent reviews and stakeholder engagement.