The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, broke down in tears during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday as he apologized for errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

"I apologize for the trauma caused to the candidates," Oloyede said tearfully, acknowledging the distress that discrepancies in the examination results had caused among students and parents nationwide.

During the briefing, the JAMB Registrar admitted that "one or two errors" had occurred during the examination process, leading to widespread confusion and dissatisfaction among candidates. The admission follows numerous complaints about inconsistencies in results, particularly regarding discrepancies in candidates' scores.

Reports revealed that approximately 379,997 candidates, primarily from the Southeast region and Lagos State, were affected by the errors. In response to the situation, JAMB has rescheduled the examination for affected candidates in an attempt to rectify the problems.

According to additional information provided during the briefing, 173,387 candidates will be required to rewrite the examination. This development has sparked significant reactions across the country, with some stakeholders calling for the JAMB Registrar's removal.

The examination body has faced severe backlash following the revelation of these errors. Notably, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar suggested that Oloyede's tears "would make sense" if accompanied by his resignation from the position.

This incident marks a significant challenge for JAMB, which has previously been commended for improvements in the administration of the UTME in recent years. The board now faces the task of restoring public confidence while ensuring that affected candidates receive fair treatment in the rescheduled examinations.

The UTME is a critical examination for Nigerian students seeking admission into tertiary institutions, making the integrity of its administration a matter of significant public interest.