The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) revealed that a father and his son have been apprehended by the police for impersonating each other during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this disclosure during an inspection tour of UTME centers in Kaduna.
Prof. Oloyede emphasized the overall successful conduct of the 2024 examination, despite isolated cases of impersonation facilitated by individuals possessing multiple National Identity Numbers (NINs).
He warned that perpetrators of exam malpractice would face consequences, as JAMB has enhanced its technology to detect such misconduct.
Regarding the incident, Prof. Oloyede stated, “We have a case of a father impersonating his son, writing an examination for the son. The two of them are now in custody.”
He underscored the gravity of such actions, questioning the father’s regard for his son’s future.
Prof. Oloyede further hinted on the issue of candidates missing that exam due to personal reasons, asserting that JAMB cannot accommodate reorganization for a few candidates at the expense of national resources.
He clarified that JAMB is not accountable for candidates who fail to meet examination requirements due to logistical or personal negligence.
In addition, Prof. Oloyede advocated for the establishment of mega Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers, particularly in densely populated states like Lagos.
He stressed the need for state support in providing land for such facilities, citing the success of the centers in Kaduna.
Despite challenges in securing land in Lagos, he expressed optimism that authorities would heed the call for cooperation.
The call for a mega CBT center in Lagos aims to alleviate logistical constraints and enhance the efficiency of the UTME process, accommodating the significant number of candidates in the state. Prof. Oloyede reiterated JAMB’s commitment to leveraging available resources to facilitate fair and transparent examination procedures nationwide.