The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund has applauded the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its transparent and well-structured conduct of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse, gave the commendation during an oversight visit to examination centres in Abuja on Friday. The team monitored the UTME at Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, and Aduvie International School, Jahi.
Dandutse praised JAMB’s integration of advanced technology, such as surveillance cameras and tracking systems, which he said had significantly curbed examination malpractice.
“We are here today as part of our oversight function to witness one of the most critical stages in educational development—the UTME,” the senator said. “JAMB has done a remarkable job in ensuring transparency and accountability in the education sector.”
He stressed the critical role education plays in national development, especially in producing professionals across diverse fields including science, arts, and medicine.
The senator also lauded JAMB for its merit-based admission process, stating that the board's monitoring system had helped detect and prevent leaks in exam content.
He highlighted the board’s effective logistics, noting the strategic batching of candidates to manage the large number of applicants without compromising order.
“This year’s exam is being conducted in three batches. The transition between batches has been smooth and the process is highly commendable,” he added.
Dandutse reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to supporting credible academic evaluations and improving education standards across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, some candidates who sat for the exam shared their experiences. While many praised the prompt and smooth conduct of the exams, a few suggested areas for improvement.
Lengkat Nendyi, 19, writing the UTME for the second time, expressed hope of scoring above 200. However, she pointed out discrepancies between the online syllabus and actual exam content.
“I urge JAMB to align the syllabus with the real exam topics. Often, we prepare with certain materials but face unexpected questions,” she said. “Still, I was able to finish ahead of time by starting with my strongest subject.”
Seventeen-year-old Amos Gabriel described his experience as fair, noting the absence of technical issues. However, he called for improvements in biometric capturing, citing delays in the process before accessing the exam hall.
The UTME continues nationwide, with over two million candidates taking part in the exam that determines admission into universities and other tertiary institutions.
ADEOLA KUNLE
