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Despite scoring above 300 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), over 5,000 candidates across Nigeria were not offered admission into any higher institution in the past five academic years.
This shocking figure has raised serious concerns about the admission process in Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges.
This information was gathered from official data provided by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The UTME is the major exam that qualifies Nigerian students for admission into tertiary schools, and scoring high is generally seen as a major step toward securing a place. But as the numbers show, having a high score is no longer a guarantee.
The Numbers That Don’t Add Up
In total, around 8.5 million candidates sat for UTME between 2019 and 2024. Out of these, only 2.7 million were admitted.
This means more than 5.8 million students, including many high scorers, were left without admission.
Among them were over 5,000 candidates who scored 300 or more, a score that is considered excellent.
For example, in the 2020/2021 academic year, nearly 2 million students took the exam, but only around 550,000 got admission.
That left over 1.3 million students stranded. In the next session, the number of admitted candidates dropped further. Only about 312,000 were offered admission from 1.4 million exam takers.
The same trend followed in subsequent years. In 2022/2023, over 1.8 million students sat for the exam, but just over 557,000 secured admission.
Even in the most recent session, 1.6 million students wrote the UTME, and only 639,000 gained admission.
What’s Causing This Problem?
JAMB has outlined several reasons why students, even those with top scores, are missing out. These include:
Wrong O’Level subject combinations: If a student picks the wrong subjects in WAEC or NECO, it affects their eligibility.
Low Post-UTME scores: After UTME, some schools still conduct additional tests. Scoring poorly in these can ruin chances.
Missing the screening or post-UTME exercise
Mismatch of catchment area and quota system: Some universities admit based on state or region. Students from outside those areas may miss out, regardless of their scores.
Failure to accept admission on time on JAMB CAPS
Duplicate applications or technical errors
Late registration that leads to wrong school placement
Experts Say It’s Time to Extend UTME Validity
Education experts are calling for a review of JAMB’s current system. One of the top suggestions is to make the UTME result valid for more than one year, just like WAEC or NECO.
Ayodamola Oluwatoyin from Reform Education Nigeria said, “If a student scores well but doesn't gain admission in the same year, they shouldn't be forced to write UTME again. The economic situation is tough. Many parents can't afford to pay for JAMB every year.”
Another educationist, Omotomiwa Daniels, added that many students end up writing UTME over and over, not because they failed, but because the system keeps shutting them out.
Government’s Response to the Crisis
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, responded to concerns over recent UTME hitches.
He confirmed that the technical errors some candidates faced during the 2025 UTME were caused by a service provider—not by JAMB or its Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system.
He added that JAMB responded quickly, did a full investigation, and is working on improvements. JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, also publicly apologized for the problems and promised that affected candidates would be rescheduled for a new test.
Poor Turnout at Some Centres
When the rescheduled exams took place in Lagos and other states, there was low attendance. Some students didn’t even know they were meant to write the exam that day. Others arrived late, confused, or tired from long-distance travel.
A school proprietor in Ayobo, Lagos, said many students didn’t get enough notice. “Some were informed that morning,” he said. “A lady came in looking completely disoriented. She hadn’t even bathed. That can ruin her focus.”
In some centres, parents had to pay for plastic chairs just to sit under the sun while waiting. Others came from very far places like Abuja or Ogun State on overnight buses, only to miss the exam session.
Parents, Students Cry Out
Many parents shared heartbreaking stories. One mother said her son was writing WAEC and had no time to prepare for UTME when the notice came. Another woman from Ogun said they only got the exam details hours before the session.
“Our children are going through too much,” said Mrs. Stella Araba, whose daughter got her exam notice on the morning of the exam. “The stress, distance, short notice, all of it is too much for young people to handle.”
Looking Ahead
The problem of brilliant students being left out of school is one that needs urgent attention. Scoring above 300 should mean a student has a very high chance of admission, not rejection. As long as these issues continue, Nigeria risks losing its best minds before they even begin.
Parents, experts, and students alike are hoping that JAMB and the government will listen and make important changes, especially in result validity, better communication, and a more transparent admission system.
