JAMB Announces Special Mop-Up Exam for Absentees in 2025 UTME

Over 5.6% of Candidates to Get Fresh Opportunity, Registrar Reaffirms Transparency in Process

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled plans to conduct a fresh round of mop-up examinations to accommodate candidates who missed the recently concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The announcement was made by JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, during a stakeholders’ meeting held Wednesday in Abuja. According to him, the initiative will cover all affected candidates, regardless of the reason for their absence, in a bid to uphold fairness and equal opportunity.

“This time, we are creating a new mop-up. Even those who missed the earlier exam due to absence will get another opportunity,” Oloyede said.

He stressed that the move was not extraordinary, noting that in functional academic systems, provisions are made for students who miss critical exams as long as there is no abuse of the process.

Oloyede also reiterated that the UTME is primarily a placement test designed to rank candidates for limited admission slots into tertiary institutions, and not a definitive assessment of intelligence or academic ability.

“Its purpose is to rank candidates for limited admission slots, not to test how smart someone is,” he clarified.

Responding to recent criticisms and speculation regarding the examination process, including allegations of ethnic bias and administrative incompetence, the Registrar firmly denied the claims.

“I take responsibility—not because I failed, but because that’s what leadership demands,” he said.

“I didn’t even realise people viewed issues around me through ethnic lenses. We must rise above such profiling.”

He further commended both candidates and JAMB personnel for their resilience and commitment during the exam period, despite logistical challenges.

JAMB confirmed that the special mop-up examination will be scheduled soon, and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency, integrity, and fairness in the country’s tertiary admission process.

The development is expected to offer a second chance to the over 5.6% of registered candidates who, for various reasons, were unable to take part in the 2025 UTME.