A video showing Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), breaking down in tears as he apologized to candidates affected by technical glitches during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has sparked varied reactions across Nigeria.
In the emotional clip that quickly went viral, Oloyede took full responsibility for the technical errors and expressed sincere regret for the distress caused to thousands of candidates and their families.
While some Nigerians commended the registrar for his honesty and humility in accepting accountability, others expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, demanding more stringent actions, including calls for his resignation.
On X (formerly Twitter), users expressed contrasting views:
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Supporters praised the apology as a sign of leadership and transparency during a difficult time.
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Critics argued that emotional displays should not replace effective solutions, accusing the institution of institutional failure and calling for structural reforms.
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A faction demanded that JAMB’s leadership be held accountable beyond apologies, with some suggesting that resignation was necessary to restore public trust.
The incident has reignited discussions about the management of national examinations and the technological infrastructure supporting them.
As JAMB works to address the errors and prevent future occurrences, Nigerians continue to watch closely, hoping for improved processes and greater reliability in the conduct of crucial national exams.
