The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has urged candidates to prepare diligently and earn their scores honestly as the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) approaches.
He warned that any form of examination malpractice could result in prosecution, stressing the importance of integrity in the examination process.
Prof Oloyede made the remark while reviewing cases of candidates currently facing legal action for offences such as impersonation and result falsification, emphasising that “there is no shortcut to success.”
He also disclosed that more than five candidates from the 2025 UTME have already been convicted for various examination infractions, underscoring JAMB’s commitment to upholding the credibility of the UTME.
The registrar called on all prospective candidates to adhere strictly to examination rules and regulations, noting that compliance is essential to safeguard their academic futures and maintain the integrity of the national examination system.
Pro Oloyede further noted that it has even become riskier for anyone to attempt malpractice, as the Board has deployed advanced technology capable of detecting and apprehending offenders instantly.
The board reiterated that it would not entertain any pleas for leniency, stressing that sufficient warnings have already been issued to all candidates.
He advised candidates to focus on their studies and prepare adequately, rather than engaging in dishonest practices that could jeopardise their future.
Ultimatum to centres not visible during registration
Similarly, JAMB said all centres participating in its processes, particularly registration and examination, must ensure that their surveillance cameras are accessible and viewable from the Board’s control room at its headquarters.
According to the registrar of the board, any of the 989 accredited centres where registration or examination activities cannot be monitored in real time may have such activities declared invalid.
In addition, affected centres risk not being paid for their services.
This policy is aimed at ensuring full transparency, allowing the Board to observe all activities during registration and examinations across centres.
During the recent registration exercise, over 150 centres were not visible from the control room, which consequently led to denial of payment.
Although the Board initially considered cancelling all registrations conducted during the affected periods, it instead carried out further scrutiny using an additional layer of remote monitoring.
The Board maintains live monitoring of all centres nationwide to detect and prevent any form of malpractice or unethical conduct.
RN