The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has advised Nigerians to verify claims of excellent performance by candidates in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) before awarding scholarships. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, emphasized the importance of seeking clarification from the board to prevent fraudulent claims.

This advice follows instances like that of Ms. Mmesoma Ejikeme and other candidates who altered their scores to gain undue advantage. Prof. Oloyede highlighted that the UTME is a ranking examination for candidates with five O’level credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, which qualifies them for admission to tertiary institutions.

He noted that additional parameters could influence the minimum admissible score for candidates seeking admission, making it challenging to publish a definitive list of top-performing candidates. Due to various criteria adopted by different institutions, it is nearly impossible to generate a single score or a comprehensive set of parameters that encompass all high achievers.

To avoid incidents like the Mmesoma case, JAMB is willing to provide guidance for those wishing to award prizes to high-performing candidates. The board appeals to the public to always verify candidates’ claims before offering awards.