Ajewole Joshua|ABNews|– August 28, 2025
There has been widespread outcry among admission seekers as Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, maintained its stance of not considering candidates who scored below 160 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The development has left many prospective students stranded, despite the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) earlier announcing 150 as the minimum benchmark for Nigerian universities.
Reactions have trailed the decision on campus-related platforms, with the KWASU Campus Report WhatsApp group administrators stressing that they had already warned intending candidates against purchasing the school’s Post-UTME form with a score below 160.
One of the group’s posts read:
“Some of you, when we advised you not to take KWASU form with JAMB score below 160, you thought we were being wicked or didn’t want you to gain admission. Now, you have wasted your money and you can see the problem yourself. Try again next year or consider a polytechnic. The fact that JAMB’s general cut-off mark is 150 doesn’t mean all universities will accept it. Even with 160 in KWASU, you should be realistic and apply for courses like Education, Library and Information Science, and similar low-demand courses. We wish you the very best.”
Several disappointed applicants expressed frustration over the money spent on forms and transport, lamenting that they were misled by the assumption that any score from 150 upward would secure them a chance.
A candidate who spoke to Campus Report said:
“I scored 155 and I was hopeful since JAMB pegged the national cut-off at 150. Now, KWASU is telling us 160 is the minimum. They should have been clearer before selling the forms.”
Education stakeholders, however, explained that universities reserve the right to set higher minimum requirements above JAMB’s national benchmark, depending on competitiveness and available space.
For now, candidates with scores below 160 have been advised to either seek admission into polytechnics or colleges of education, or prepare better for the 2026 UTME.
