2025 UTME: Impossible to attribute 60% failure to lack of intelligence among students – Ezeilo
Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, and ex-Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for taking responsibility for the widespread failures observed in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement, Prof. Ezeilo expressed her disbelief at attributing over 60% of the failures in the 2025 UTME to a lack of intelligence among students or to a perceived declining interest in education among today’s youth. She emphasized that such a significant failure rate cannot be solely blamed on the students. Her comments came after JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, admitted to errors that affected the performance of students during the examination.
This development has sparked discussions among stakeholders about the factors contributing to the high failure rate and the measures needed to address them.
She said: “It is commendable that the JAMB leadership has taken responsibility for the widespread failures, which were partly due to the introduction of new technology that many candidates were unfamiliar with.
“In a country as polarised as ours, with evident disparities between the rich and the poor, urban and rural areas, and between genders, it is inconsiderate to implement such an exam policy without addressing these issues, particularly the digital divide.
“This divide is especially pronounced in rural areas and among women and girls, leading to significant gaps in both knowledge and practical technology use.
“As an educator, I find it inconceivable to attribute over sixty per cent of these failures to a lack of intelligence among students or to dismiss them as a declining interest in education among today’s youth.
“The key takeaway is that the introduction of new technologies for traditionally written exams should be gradual. This process should begin by providing choices and should span at least five to ten years before entirely phasing out handwritten JAMB entrance or other public exams.
“Such a phased approach will ensure a smoother transition and greater inclusivity for all students
