The Women Aid Collective (WACOL) has staged a protest at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office in Umuahia, Abia State, demanding immediate action over recurring server malfunctions during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Led by Ugo Kalu, the protesters expressed concerns that the technical glitches disproportionately affected candidates from the Southeast region and parts of Lagos State, raising questions about potential regional bias in the examination process.

During the demonstration, Kalu questioned the selective nature of the server failures. "Why is this issue not nationwide?" she asked. "Is there an intention behind these repeated failures to hinder the education of students from our region?"

The group called on JAMB to upgrade its technological infrastructure to prevent further disruptions, highlighting that the technical issues have caused significant psychological distress to both students and their parents.

Mrs. Calista Umeadi, Head of Servicom and representative of the JAMB Abia State Coordinator, received the protesters and commended them for their peaceful approach. She assured the group that their grievances would be escalated to higher authorities within the examination board for prompt action.

This protest comes amid growing calls for action regarding JAMB's examination system. The South-East Representatives caucus has reportedly called for the cancellation of the 2025 UTME due to these technical challenges.

However, JAMB's Registrar has previously denied any conspiracy against specific regions of Nigeria and announced plans for a mop-up examination for candidates affected by the glitches.

The situation continues to generate concern among stakeholders in Nigeria's education sector, particularly in the Southeast region where students and parents remain anxious about the impact of these technical failures on their academic prospects.