JAMB: Candidates Express Satisfaction As 2023 UTME Commences

Candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Abuja have expressed satisfaction with the process of the exercise which commenced today, Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

The UTME is an annual examination organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), for students who are in the process of gaining admission into a tertiary institution in Nigeria.

In a tour by a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to some of the Computer Based Centres (CBT) in and around Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the agency observed that there were no technical glitches during the examination process.

It, however, observed that the first session of the exercise which was fixed to commence at 08:00 a.m. did not begin until some minutes before 9:00 a.m at Global Distance Learning Institute, opposite Ministry of Finance, Central Business Area, Abuja, although the candidates were seen at the venue at 6;50 am.

Giving a reason for the delay, an invigilator who identified himself as Rilwanu, said the examination was moved from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. because they had to wait for orders from JAMB Headquarters.

Abdulrahman Balogun, one of the High Opinion Leaders for the examination, also said: 

”I have been to some centres this morning from Jikwoyi, Karu to AYA and now at the Global Distance Learning Institute.

”At this centre, they are to have three sessions, the first session is to start at 7:00a.m and students were expected to arrive at 6:30 am. The second session is to start at 9:00a.m, while the third session starts at 11:00 a.m.

”We had some little delay at this centre, the examination that ought to have started at 7:00 a.m. did not start and when asked I was told it was not due to any technical hitch but they were waiting for a signal from JAMB headquarters.

”As you can see, the examination is going on unhindered, 200 candidates are expected to sit for the first session but out of this, 183 were accredited, 16 absent and one unverified.”

Balogun noted that candidates in the second batch had been screened to verify their centre, commending the process for achieving about  99 per cent success in terms of orderliness, smoothness and arrangement.

He, however, urged parents to avoid obstructing the process of the exercise by loitering the examination centre.

”Some say they are still children and the truth is these are children. You cannot blame them but they should not interfere with the process or conduct of JAMB examination.

”It is their fundamental right to stay outside the gate but they should not come in and obstruct the exams,” he said.

Some candidates who spoke with NAN after their examinations applauded the process, praying for hitch-free exercises in the future.

Hassan Usman, who attempted the examination for the third time said: "I thank God for the examination, though at first, the computer did not show us the questions to answer, we complained and immediately this was corrected.

”Since then we did not experience any hitch. This is my best examination because from the last two examinations I wrote, there were usually technical fault, which prevented me from gaining admission into tertiary institutions.

”But with this I am happy, there is an improvement in the conduct of the examination from registration to mock and the main UTME. I am hopeful to get admitted into my school of choice this year."

Also speaking, a supervisor at the Futuregate CBT Centre 2, in Ado, Nasarawa State, Timothy Abuga, said no hitches were experienced during the exercise even with the good number of candidates.

”We are expecting more than 250 candidates for the exam. The network is encouraging and the centre too is conducive for candidates.

Also, Mr Samson Ichimso, a candidate, who had written the examination in 2022, expressed satisfaction with the 2023 conduct, saying that this year’s examination is more preferable.

”Last year, my score was very poor, but I believe this year’s own will be better because there is no network issue and the examination worked smoothly,” he said.

AllNews Nigeria earlier reported that no fewer than 1.6 million candidates registered for the 20223 UTME.