JAMB Has Lost Relevance” — Pastor Calls For Total Scrapping Of UTME

Speaking during a Sunday sermon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the cleric urged the Federal Government to discontinue the exam, describing it as outdated and overly stressful for students.

He questioned the continued necessity of UTME, arguing that multiple layers of admission screening have made the process unnecessarily difficult.

“In Nigeria, you will write WAEC; after WAEC, you will write JAMB; after JAMB, you will write post-UTME; then you wait for the school cut-off mark and departmental cut-off mark. If you don’t meet it, you wait another year, register again, and start all over. It is very frustrating,” he said.

Apostle Chinyere further argued that JAMB has lost relevance, noting that universities still conduct additional screening exercises even after UTME.

“JAMB has lost its relevance because universities still organise their own entrance examinations after UTME,” he added.

He also criticised the early morning examination schedule, particularly the 6:30 a.m. timing, saying it exposes candidates to security risks and unnecessary financial burden.

“Sometimes I wonder why JAMB fixes exams for 6:30 a.m. Do you know that for all my adopted children under OPM scholarships going for JAMB, I have to give them extra money for hotels?” he said.

According to him, many candidates are forced to travel long distances and lodge near exam centres due to the early timing, increasing costs for parents and guardians.

“They cannot travel safely at that hour, so they have to sleep in hotels close to their centres. This creates extra financial pressure,” he explained.

He also faulted the placement of candidates in faraway centres, describing it as unsafe given current security challenges.

“JAMB is always posting them to centres very far from where they live. They should be posted to centres close to their homes,” he said.

Referencing recent security concerns, he cited reports of UTME candidates allegedly abducted in Benue State, calling the situation unfortunate.

“I saw something on social media that some people who went to write JAMB in Benue State were kidnapped. It is really very unfortunate,” he said.

Comparing Nigeria’s system with foreign admission processes, the cleric said many countries use more flexible and less stressful methods.

“Outside Nigeria, you don’t need JAMB. You apply directly to the university, get an offer, and after verification of your results and payment of fees, admission is confirmed,” he explained.