No reason was, however, given for the high absence rate of the candidates in the rescheduled examination.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released results of the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing 21,082 absent candidates out of 336,845 scheduled to write the test. In a statement by spokesperson Fabian Benjamin, the board extended an olive branch, allowing absentees to participate in the upcoming mop-up examination. “This waiver is also extended to candidates who missed the initial main UTME,” JAMB stated.
The results followed rigorous review by chief external examiners and a sub-committee chaired by NOUN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olufemi Peters. Psychometrics expert Prof. Boniface Nworgu analyzed the results before release. JAMB noted performance trends remained consistent with past years (11% in 2013 to 34% in 2016).
The board also decided to release withheld results of under-aged candidates, though they remain ineligible for admission. JAMB warned against examination malpractices, citing “alarming practices by candidates and some CBT center proprietors” that compromised test integrity.