The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, has lauded the notable increase in Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres for the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) despite the technical problems in this year’s mock exam.
“It was one of the best that we have ever done. To me, there has been a jump in the number of CBT centres; we had 800 last year, we have 1,010 this year, and then 20 to 25, unfortunately, had their problems,” the JAMB chief said.
His comment followed the just-concluded mock UTME examination, which faced questioning from netizens due to system failure.
While it raised concerns about the body’s readiness for this year’s UTME, Oloyede is upbeat about the entrance examination.
The registrar said the mock exams are to test the readiness of the accredited CBT centres ahead of the UTME exams scheduled to hold from the 16th of April to the 23rd of April 2026.
“For us, if we have fewer than 30 of 1,010 that had this problem, and the purpose is to test them, we are comfortable with that because since then, 20 of them were outright delisted because they did not perform to expectations,” he said.
Oloyede said it is unfortunate that some centres experienced issues, especially as over 1,500 applicants were screened to select the 1,010 accredited CBT centres, which, though not owned by JAMB, were duly certified and largely met the required standards.
“Few of them had problems with the generator,” he said.
He likened the case to that of a medical doctor in treating patients.
“If you are a medical doctor and you’re treating 1000 people and all of them are going back home, the two that unfortunately died, they will not accept that everything is okay.
“But you will have to thank God unless you are not grateful that you have that level of success,” he said