JAMB decries sophisticated malpractice from 2025 UTME, blames CBT operators, parents for complicity

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stark warning about the growing threat posed by sophisticated, technology-enabled malpractices, which are jeopardizing the integrity of Nigeria’s admission process.

This announcement follows the findings from its Special Committee on Examination Infractions, which shared its report with JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede in Abuja.

Dr. Jake Epelle, who chairs the committee, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “To us, this was a moral obligation, a national service and a fight for the soul of meritocracy in Nigeria,” he stated.

The committee, established on August 18, 2025, was tasked with investigating irregularities in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and assessing JAMB’s systems.

Among the shocking discoveries were 4,251 instances of “finger blending”—the planned manipulation of biometric checks—as well as 190 cases of AI-assisted impersonation using image morphing techniques.

Additionally, the investigation documented 1,878 false disability claims and widespread forgery of credentials, revealing a troubling network of collusion involving parents, tutorial centers, and some schools.

“This malpractice has become highly organized, technology-driven, and dangerously normalized,” Epelle remarked, highlighting the complicity of various parties and the weak legal frameworks that hinder effective enforcement.

In response to these alarming trends, the committee proposed several measures aimed at restoring credibility to the examination process. These include the implementation of AI-powered biometric anomaly detection tools, real-time monitoring, and the establishment of a Central Examination Security Operations Centre.

Furthermore, the panel called for significant legal reforms, including amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act, to better tackle biometric and digital fraud. Epelle also advocated for a nationwide ethical campaign and measures to hold parents accountable for enabling malpractices.

“The integrity of Nigeria’s education system is at a critical juncture,” he warned. “If left unchecked, examination malpractice will continue to erode merit, undermine public trust, and destroy the foundational principles of education and human capital development in Nigeria.”

Source: PUNCH