Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) and the South East Civil Society Coalition have called for total cancellation of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) held recently across the country.
The Executive Director of WACOL, Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), also called for an independent investigation into the operations of Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) regarding the 2025 UTME.
Ezeilo made the call on Tuesday during a peaceful protest in Enugu and across other states in the South-East against the “JAMB inefficiency that led to mass failure in the 2025 UTME.”
Other organizations that joined the protest were the South East Human Rights Civil Society Situation Room, South East Women’s Network (SEWNET), and the Fifty-Fifty 50/50 Action Women Group.
According to her, the demonstration was in response to the glaring irregularities and systemic failures observed in the conduct of the 2025 UTME administered by the Board.
She demanded immediate reforms in the examination process to restore public trust and transparency.
“We are here to register our displeasure with the ongoing sage with the UTME result.
“Our children have had enough; they have been traumatised and have been forced to commit suicide because of JAMB.
“We are asking JAMB, you do not deploy technology selectively and you do not sit for examination selectively. Exam that you want to adjudge fair, everybody must have a uniform exam.
“When JAMB admitted responsibility for the technical glitch or whatever they call it, we say that it is a good move.
“But seeing them, within two days, fix another exam without full analysis of what went wrong in the first exam.
“Widespread reports of technical glitches delayed or missing results, unaccredited centers, and unresolved discrepancies have undermined the integrity of the examination,” Ezeilo said.
She called on students, parents, educators, civil society organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to join us in advocating and amplifying the voices of these affected young Nigerian students who deserved better.
Ezeilo reminded the government and relevant stakeholders that education was a fundamental right, and any actions that compromise this right a direct attack on the future of our nation.
The protest held simultaneously in the five South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
