JAMB Almost Ruined My Life!” – Mary Njoku Demands UTME Be Scrapped

Amid ongoing controversy over the 2025 UTME results glitch, Njoku took to Instagram on Thursday, May 15, 2025, to question the relevance of JAMB in Nigeria’s education system.

She argued that students should be able to gain admission into tertiary institutions solely based on their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, without the added burden of writing UTME or post-UTME exams.

The actress recalled her own frustrating experience with JAMB, stating that the exam body nearly derailed her academic dreams. She revealed that repeated attempts to secure admission through JAMB were unsuccessful, and it was this academic setback that ultimately led her into Nollywood — a twist she’s now thankful for.

In her words:
“Why do we need JAMB to get into universities? Isn’t passing the SSCE enough? I don’t see the point of writing JAMB and post-JAMB after already completing secondary school.”

“JAMB nearly ‘jammed’ my life — literally. I sat for the exam several times with no admission. Thank God for Nollywood, which gave me purpose. Honestly, if you ask me (I know nobody did), I believe JAMB should be scrapped.”

Njoku concluded by suggesting that universities should focus more on the quality of SSCE results, such as requiring high grades in relevant subjects, rather than subjecting students to additional, discouraging hurdles.