2025 UTME Mass Failure Not Due To Student Intelligence Deficiency

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Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking and ex-Dean of Law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu, has applauded the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for acknowledging its role in the poor performance of candidates in the recently concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

She expressed strong reservations about the narrative that more than 60% of students failed due to a lack of intellectual capability or an alleged disinterest in academics among Nigeria’s younger generation.

Prof. Ezeilo’s response followed the disclosure by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who conceded that administrative and technological lapses contributed to the subpar results in the 2025 UTME.

According to reports, out of approximately 1.9 million UTME candidates, over 1.5 million scored below 200 out of the total 400 marks — a development that has sparked nationwide debate among educators and stakeholders in the education sector.

In an exclusive interview with LMSINT MEDIA on Wednesday, Prof. Ezeilo emphasized that while technological innovation in exam administration is necessary, its implementation must be strategic and inclusive.

“The decision by JAMB to accept responsibility is worthy of commendation. The technological transition clearly affected the outcomes, especially for students unfamiliar with the new system,” she remarked.

She stressed that Nigeria’s deeply rooted socio-economic disparities — including those based on wealth, geography (urban vs rural), and gender — must be carefully considered before enforcing major digital reforms in education.

“In rural communities and among female students, access to digital tools and exposure to modern technology is still limited. This digital divide significantly impairs both the comprehension and application of tech-based exam formats,” she explained.

From her perspective as an academic, Prof. Ezeilo said it’s unthinkable to attribute such a high failure rate to the intellectual limitations of students or to claim that Nigerian youths are losing interest in education.

She advocated for a gradual transition to digital exams, suggesting a flexible hybrid model that allows students to choose between manual and digital formats. According to her, a complete shift should take at least five to ten years, allowing the system to adjust without marginalizing any group.