Nollywood actress Mary Njoku has publicly questioned the relevance of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Nigeria's higher education admission process, suggesting that the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) should be sufficient for university entry.

In a statement shared on her Instagram story, Njoku expressed confusion about Nigeria's multi-layered tertiary admission system, stating: "Why is it necessary to take the JAMB exam to gain admission into universities? Isn't the SSCE sufficient? I don't understand the need for JAMB + post-JAMB when the SSCE already shows we've completed secondary school."

The actress's comments come amid widespread controversy surrounding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), which has faced significant backlash following reports of mass failures among candidates.

JAMB recently acknowledged errors in the results of some candidates and issued an apology to those affected. The board's Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, announced that candidates from 157 out of 882 examination centers would be required to retake their examinations beginning Friday, May 16. This decision affects approximately 379,997 candidates primarily from Lagos and the South-eastern regions of Nigeria.

Njoku's critique adds to growing calls for reform in Nigeria's tertiary education admission system, with various stakeholders, including the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), demanding greater accountability and transparency from JAMB.

The controversy has also prompted organizations like Nzuko Umunna to urge JAMB to display examination results immediately after completion, while others, including activist Igboayaka, have called for Professor Oloyede's removal from his position as JAMB Registrar.

Despite the criticism, some institutions, including Yaba College of Technology (YabaTech), have expressed support for Oloyede's leadership style, highlighting the complex and divided opinions surrounding JAMB's role in Nigeria's education system.