The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has condemned the conduct of the recent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), noting that the process was “marred by unacceptable tardiness, resulting in numerous unsavoury reactions across the country.”
In a press release signed by its National President, Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi, and General Secretary, Dr Joan Oji, the umbrella association of Nigerian writers said: “We acknowledge the Registrar’s commitment to his mandate over the years and sympathise with him over the unfortunate incidents that transpired recently.
“However, we cannot help but express our disappointment and concern over the regrettable and avoidable technical glitches that had jeopardised the smooth running of the 2025 UTME process, especially in Lagos State and most of the South-east.
“We commend the JAMB Registrar/CEO for his courageous decision to investigate the lapses, take responsibility, and offer a sincere apology.
“His commitment to accountability and transparency in this regard is very laudable.
“We urge him, however, to put measures in place to ensure that such lapses do not recur in the future.
“The Board must take concrete steps to upgrade its operational gadgets and adopt more effective preventive measures going forward.
“Furthermore, we call on the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct a thorough investigation into the root cause of the recent problem for its own oversight function.
“This will enable the ministry to put in place appropriate strategies to prevent a future repeat as well as ensure the integrity of our educational tests and measurements.
“Meanwhile, we call on Nigerians to exercise restraint and avoid making provocative and insensitive statements that could ignite tension across the various sociopolitical divides in our country.
“In this delicate moment, we must prioritise calm and constructive dialogue. We urge all stakeholders to work together to find solutions and prevent the politicisation or ethnicisation of this issue.
“We at ANA remain committed to supporting all efforts that promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in our educational system.
“Together, we can build a more robust and efficient examination process that serves the best interests of our nation.”
