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- Constitutes team to tackle menace
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has lamented the growing dynamics of examination malpractice as witnessed in the conduct of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually.
It noted that examination malpractices have assumed a major national concern, thus demanding the support of all stakeholders to tackle the menace.
The Board noted that examination malpractices come in different ways and styles every year, and each time it fixed the identified loopholes, candidates would discover different means of carrying out their crime, particularly leveraging various digital tools.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered the concerns in Abuja on Monday when he inaugurated a 23-member special committee on examination infraction with Jake Epele as the chairman.
Members of the committee include Prof. Muhammad Bello, Prof. Samuel Odewummi, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, Prof. Ibe Ifeakandu, retired Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, Dr. Chuks Okpaka of Microsoft Africa and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Also, there are representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), among others.
In his remarks, the JAMB Registrar confirmed that examination malpractices are speedily taking a sophisticated dimension, revealing that the results of 6,458 candidates remain under investigation for alleged involvement in high-tech cheating.
“In this year’s UTME, we came across a number of strange things that made us feel that it would be better if we expand our resources, because we believe that God has endowed this nation with a lot of resources that we can tap from.
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“Examination malpractice has evolved beyond traditional schemes into technologically sophisticated forms, including multiple cases of biometric and identity fraud by some accredited CBT centres and candidates.
“We thought we found the solution to impersonation when we introduced the compulsory use of National Identity Number (NIN) for registration. But the candidates have opened new windows using the digital tool. Some are even using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to alter so many things.”
JAMB Registrar said the responsibilities of the committee are to investigate all the cases of image blending, finger blending, false claim of albinism and result falsification in the 2025 examination; identify the methods, patterns, tools, and technologies used to perpetrate this infraction; review current examination and registration policies and recommend improvements.
Others are: determine the culpability or otherwise of each of the 6,458 suspected candidates whose results, excluding the albinism group, are still being withheld; recommend appropriate disciplinary actions or sanctions against individuals or groups found culpable; propose a proactive framework for the detection, deterrence, and prevention of technologically enabled examination fraud in future exercises.
Consider and advise on any issue incidental or related to these issues, and submit a report not later than three weeks after the inauguration of the committee. “We have chosen three weeks because justice delayed is said to be justice denied. In about four weeks, admission will close. And we believe that those who are found not to be guilty should have the opportunity.”
JAMB Registrar appealed to the committee to be diligent and thorough in their duty, asking them to invite any JAMB staff or other stakeholders if need be to ensure they deliver in their task.
Chairman of the committee, Dr. Jake Epele, in his remarks, praised Prof. Oloyede’s leadership and pledged the committee’s commitment to the assignment.
He noted that examination malpractice is not just a breach of rules but a direct assault on integrity, merit, and the future of our nation’s youth. “The task before us is therefore a sacred one. I believe that everyone in this committee should see the task as a call from God Almighty.
“It is to defend the credibility of our examination, restore public confidence, and ensure that diligence and honesty remain the true pathway to opportunity. I assure you that I will lead this committee with fairness, transparency, and determination,” he said.
