NIN: JAMB Will Decide UTME Dates, Others Saturday

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*May Shift 2021 UTME Date As Over 600,000 Unable To Register

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has hinted
of possibility of postponement of this year’s Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The examination (UTME) is slated to hold between June 5 and
19.

The examination body however confirmed that the mock examination
that is slated for May 20 will go on as scheduled.

The board stated the decision to either postpone the examination
or to continue as scheduled would be taken later on Friday at a
meeting billed to hold with concerned individuals and
institutions.

Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, said these on Friday
during a virtual meeting with relevant stakeholders ahead of the
examination.

Prof Oloyede blamed the development on the difficulties being
experienced by the candidates in their efforts to register.

He said about 600,000 candidates who have indicated interest to
participate in the 2021 UTME are yet to register.

The registrar said: “We are here to commend you and also to
apologise to you for putting you through some hardships, especially
in your efforts to register. Most of these things are outside our
purview. They have to do with government policies and we have
little or no control over them.

“While the mock examination will go on as scheduled we cannot
say the same of the main examination. This is primarily because of
NIN. We have more than 600,000 candidates who have indicated
interest in our examination but are yet to receive their
details.

“The possibility of shifting the exam forward is still high; but
that will be determined after our meeting with stakeholders. This
is because about 600,000 candidates who have indicated interest in
the exam are yet to register. There is need to give everyone the
opportunity.”

Oloyede said so far, 1.1 million candidates have registered for
the 2021 UTME, stating that the board anticipates approximately 1.9
million applicants at the end of the exercise.

The JAMB boss noted that even though 50 per cent of candidates
have already registered without problem, there was need to carry
everyone along, adding that after meeting with stakeholders, they
will decide on whether to shift the exam forward or not.

While apologising for the new initiatives introduced in the 2021
UTME, Prof Oloyede explained that it was not to punish candidates
but to rather exposed some candidates who are in the habit of
indulging in various forms of malpractices.

The registrar said: “We apologise for putting you through some
hardship in the registration. The government directed that anyone
participating in JAMB must have their NIN. This is beyond our
control. Those who are yet to register should do so.

“The mock exam is billed to come up on Thursday. It is an exam
meant to test our capability. As you all know, the main exam is
coming up on June 5 and 19 2021.

“We are meeting with stakeholders today to discuss about the
issues and on whether we will shift the exam date forward or not.
We will brief the media on the outcome of the meeting tomorrow
(Saturday 15, May).

“Shifting the exam date is not the solution, at the meeting we
will discuss on how some of the problems encountered by candidates
would be resolved. It is important that we carry everyone
along.”