By Emmanuel Adegbite
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced that the results of approximately 379,000 candidates who participated in the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will be released on Wednesday. The announcement brings relief and anticipation to thousands of candidates and their families who have been eagerly awaiting feedback from the nation’s foremost tertiary admission examination body.
The affected candidates are those who were unable to write their exams during the main UTME exercise held between April 19 and April 29 due to technical glitches, biometric verification issues, and other logistical challenges. As part of its effort to ensure fairness and equal opportunity, JAMB conducted a rescheduled exam for these candidates on Saturday, May 18, 2025, across designated centers nationwide.
According to JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board has completed all necessary processes for result collation, cross-checking, and standard verification. Speaking in Abuja on Monday, he emphasized that the Board remains committed to ensuring the integrity and transparency of the examination process.
“We appreciate the patience of the affected candidates. We assure them that the delay in the release of their results was to ensure that every aspect of the examination was thoroughly scrutinized for fairness, accuracy, and compliance with our operational standards,” Dr. Benjamin said.
He also reiterated that candidates whose results are ready will be able to check them through JAMB’s official website or by sending “UTME RESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number they registered with.
This year’s UTME exercise has tested not only the academic preparedness of candidates but also the resilience of Nigeria’s digital and examination infrastructure. With over 1.9 million registered candidates, the 2025 UTME marked one of the largest digital examination exercises in sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite significant improvements in CBT deployment over the years, technical setbacks still hindered seamless participation for some candidates, prompting this rescheduled sitting. Education stakeholders have praised JAMB for its swift response in organizing a makeup exam to accommodate those affected.
With the release of the rescheduled UTME results, the next phase will involve the commencement of the 2025/2026 admission process into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions. The JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) will play a central role in automating and regulating the admission process, ensuring merit-based placement while observing institutional policies and government guidelines.
Already, many institutions have begun preliminary screening procedures and internal post-UTME arrangements. JAMB has advised all candidates to remain alert and avoid falling victim to fraudsters and unauthorized agents claiming to offer admission or influence results.
JAMB’s transparency in announcing the reasons behind the rescheduling and its consistent updates have earned the Board commendation from parents, candidates, and education observers. However, it also reopens conversations around the need for stronger technological investment, power stability, and digital literacy among CBT center operators.
As results are released this Wednesday, candidates are encouraged to verify their scores early, keep their credentials safe, and prepare for post-UTME screenings. The Board also restated that it will continue to monitor CBT centers for compliance and integrity, adding that some centers have already been blacklisted due to misconduct during the main and rescheduled exams.
The 2025 UTME journey may be winding down, but the broader journey of education, opportunity, and nation-building continues. For the 379,000 candidates awaiting their results, Wednesday marks a decisive turning point, one that could shape the trajectory of their academic and professional futures.
