The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that over 1.5 million candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scored below 200 out of the total 400 marks.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the revelation during the official release of the 2025 UTME results, noting that while the examination was conducted smoothly across the country, overall performance remained a cause for concern.
According to the breakdown provided by JAMB, only a small percentage of candidates scored above 250, with a significant majority falling below the 200 mark — traditionally considered a competitive threshold for admission into many Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Prof. Oloyede emphasized that the low performance highlights the need for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s basic and secondary education systems. He also warned candidates and parents against relying on “miracle centres” and unethical practices, which continue to undermine the integrity of the examination system.
“Success in UTME must be earned through diligence and preparation,” Oloyede stated. “We urge stakeholders — including schools, parents, and policymakers — to take this performance as a wake-up call.”
The 2025 UTME saw over 1.9 million registered candidates, making it one of the largest cohorts in recent years. The results have reignited national debates around curriculum quality, student preparedness, and systemic education challenges in Nigeria.
