The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) recently revealed a disturbing case of exam malpractice involving a father and son duo who were apprehended by the police for impersonation during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB Registrar, made this disclosure during an inspection tour of UTME centers in Kaduna, emphasizing that despite overall successful conduct of the 2024 examinations, incidents of impersonation persist due to the prevalence of individuals possessing multiple National Identity Numbers (NINs).
Prof. Oloyede sternly warned that perpetrators of exam fraud would face consequences, either immediately or in the future, as JAMB has provided its technological capabilities to detect various forms of malpractice.
Speaking to reporters following the inspection at the Kaduna State University (KASU) CBT Center, the Registrar highlighted the prevalence of impersonation cases, citing an instance where a father took the exam on behalf of his son, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Expressing concern for the implicated father-son pair, now in custody, Prof. Oloyede lamented the detrimental impact of such actions on the son’s future prospects. While refraining from disclosing the specific location of the incident, he assured that measures were in place to apprehend offenders swiftly, aided by advanced surveillance technologies.
Furthermore, Prof. Oloyede addressed concerns regarding candidates who missed exams due to factors unrelated to JAMB, asserting that the board cannot justify reallocating resources to accommodate those who failed to meet registration requirements.
He emphasized that JAMB is not accountable for failures resulting from candidates’ choices, such as registering through secondary schools that fail to ensure timely transportation to exam centers.
Highlighting the need for expansive computer-based testing (CBT) facilities, particularly in populous states like Lagos, Prof. Oloyede stressed the importance of governmental support in establishing mega CBT centers to accommodate the large number of candidates sitting for the UTME.
He expressed confidence that with adequate resources and cooperation from state authorities, JAMB could overcome logistical challenges and ensure a smoother examination process nationwide.
