Tension Mounts: UTME Students Left in Limbo as JAMB Misses Wednesday Result Deadline

 

Candidates who sat for the resit of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are growing increasingly anxious after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) failed to release their results as earlier promised on Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, the examination body had assured the public that the results for candidates who took the rescheduled UTME would be made available by midweek. However, by Saturday morning, no official statement had been issued, nor were the results accessible through the board’s usual online platforms.

Frustration is spreading rapidly across social media as students and parents express their disappointment, calling out the board for what they describe as a “lack of transparency” and “poor communication.” Many candidates who wrote the resit exams had expected to use their scores for ongoing admissions processes, some of which are already nearing closure at various institutions.

Candidates say they are caught in a state of limbo. “It’s disheartening,” said David Okeke, a resit candidate from Lagos. “We were told to expect our results on Wednesday, and many of us were checking the portal non-stop. There has been no update whatsoever.”

Others have taken to online forums and WhatsApp groups to share their confusion and seek clarity. Rumors and speculations have filled the void left by official silence, with some claiming technical difficulties while others suggest the results may have been withheld due to irregularities.

JAMB has remained tight-lipped, with its official channels yet to provide an explanation for the delay. Attempts to reach spokespersons for comment have gone unanswered, further fueling frustration among affected candidates.

Observers say the delay could have wider implications, especially for students who risk missing admission deadlines. Several tertiary institutions are already moving ahead with their post-UTME processes, and without results in hand, resit candidates may be left out of contention.

Education stakeholders are urging JAMB to issue an immediate update to calm growing tensions and reassure candidates. A senior education consultant, Mrs. Boma Peters, noted that timely communication was crucial. “These are young people whose futures are on the line. Silence only breeds uncertainty and anxiety.”

This is not the first time the board has come under fire for delays and lack of communication. Past examination cycles have seen similar challenges, though JAMB has often attributed them to technical glitches or the need to uphold result integrity through detailed verification processes.

Nevertheless, candidates say they deserve better, especially after complying with the board’s call for a resit — an exercise that was itself prompted by initial lapses in the original examination.

The longer the delay, the higher the stakes become for thousands of students who see this exam as their gateway to higher education. Many now hope that JAMB will break its silence soon and provide a clear timeline for when results will finally be released.