JAMB Opts Against Releasing Top Scorers for 2024 UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced its decision not to disclose the names of the top scorers for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Speaking at a press briefing in Bwari on Monday, Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede stated that the board views the UTME as solely a ranking examination and aims to avoid potential controversies like the ‘Mmesoma saga’ from the 2023 UTME.

In the 2023 UTME, Ejikeme Mmesoma, a 19-year-old student, falsely claimed a score of 362 when her actual score was 249 on the JAMB portal. Oloyede revealed 1,989,668 candidates registered for the examinations conducted in 118 towns across 774 computer-based test centres (CBT).

It is widely known that the Board has consistently expressed its reluctance to publish the names of its top-performing candidates, considering the UTME as primarily a ranking assessment due to other factors influencing the minimum admissible score for admission to tertiary institutions, Oloyede stated.

He emphasised the challenges in determining a definitive set of parameters for identifying candidates with the highest admissible score, as various institutional criteria ultimately influence admission decisions. Oloyede underscored the importance of verifying candidates’ claims before awarding prizes to ensure transparency and accuracy.

JAMB’s decision reflects its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process and preventing potential misinformation or misunderstandings among stakeholders.

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Ikenna Churchill

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