JAMB finalising arrangements for mop-up UTME – Registrar

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to announce the date for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up examination.

The examination will cater to candidates who missed the initial test due to various reasons, including biometric issues during verification and those registered for foreign centres.

According to the information in JAMB’s Bulletin release on Monday, JAMB management is finalising arrangements, and the date is expected to be confirmed within this month.

The Board advised affected candidates to await official announcements and disregard unverified social media posts.

“Candidates are advised to disregard any social media posts suggesting specific dates. The Board will make an official announcement once the date is confirmed,” the Bulletin said.

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Recall that JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a meeting with key stakeholders to address the challenges encountered during the 2025 UTME, announced that the mop-up examination with accommodate the estimated 5.6 per cent of candidates who missed the examination.

He said that the board had extended the opportunity to all the affected candidates, regardless of the reasons for their absence.

“Normally, we hold one mop-up nationwide for those with one issue or the other.

“But this time, we are creating a new mop-up. Even those who missed the earlier examination due to absence, we will extend this opportunity to them.

“It is not that we are doing something extraordinary; in class, you make up an examination when students miss it for one reason or the other; we just don’t allow abuse of that.

“So we will allow all the candidates who missed the main examination for any reason to take part in this mop-up,” he said.

JAMB finalising arrangements for mop-up UTME – Registrar

Seven alternative courses you can study with low JAMB score 2025

Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education offer many great courses that have lower JAMB cut-off marks but are still highly valuable and rewarding.

So, you’ve checked your JAMB result and the score isn’t what you hoped for. Maybe it’s below 200, and now you’re wondering if your dreams of getting into university are over. Don’t panic—you’re not alone, and the answer is no, your dream is still alive.

Not every student scores 250 or above in JAMB. In fact, a large number don’t even hit the 200 mark. That can feel discouraging, especially if you were aiming for competitive courses like Medicine, Law, or Engineering. But a low JAMB score doesn’t mean you can’t still pursue a solid, meaningful course of study.

There are several courses in Nigerian tertiary institutions that accept lower JAMB scores, and many of them lead to great career opportunities. Let’s explore seven of these underrated yet valuable courses, why they’re worth considering, and what career paths they can open up.

1. Education (All Subjects)

Education courses have some of the lowest cut-off marks, but don’t underestimate their value. Whether it’s Mathematics, English, Biology, or Government, becoming a trained teacher opens the door to academic, administrative, and policy-making roles in Nigeria’s growing education sector.

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2. Agricultural Science

Nigeria’s economy depends heavily on agriculture, and there’s a constant demand for skilled agricultural experts. Studying Agricultural Science can lead to careers in agribusiness, research, and food production, and even entrepreneurship in farming and agro-processing.

3. Religious Studies / Theology

If you’re passionate about religion, philosophy, or ethics, this is a solid course with a low entry barrier. Graduates often become educators, counselors, or work within faith-based organizations. It also prepares you for roles in leadership within religious institutions.

4. Home Economics

This course may not seem popular, but it’s practical and career-rich. Home Economics graduates can work in food and nutrition, textile design, family life education, or even start their own businesses in catering or interior decoration.

5. Library and Information Science

With the world shifting towards digital information and data management, this course is becoming more relevant than ever. It’s great for students interested in organization, research, and IT. You can work in schools, universities, government agencies, or digital archives.

6. Theatre Arts / Performing Arts

If you’re creative and enjoy storytelling, drama, or media, this course offers a great path. Nigeria’s entertainment industry is booming, and Theatre Arts graduates can find work in film, TV, event production, or become actors, directors, or playwrights.

7. Local Language Studies (Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, etc.)

These indigenous language courses not only preserve culture but are essential in education, broadcasting, and translation. There’s growing demand for local language experts in media, education, and publishing, especially with efforts to promote African identity.

Seven alternative courses you can study with low JAMB score 2025

WAEC faces N100bn lawsuit over midnight exams

A Lagos-based lawyer and human rights advocate, Evans Ufeli, has filed a lawsuit against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, seeking N100 billion in damages over the alleged violation of students’ fundamental rights during the May 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Ufeli, who filed the suit on behalf of affected students, is asking the court to declare the conduct of the English Language exam as “unlawful, inhumane, and constitutionally defective.”

According to him, students were subjected to “degrading and traumatic conditions,” including taking exams in darkness and unsafe environments, sometimes as late as 8pm.

The originating motion, filed under Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside relevant provisions of the Child Rights Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, seeks several key judicial pronouncements.

Among the reliefs sought are:

• A declaration that the conduct of the 2025 WASSCE English Language exam in “unsafe and dark conditions amounted to a violation of students’ fundamental rights under the Constitution and African Charter.”
• A mandatory order compelling WAEC and the Ministry to organise a re-sit of the affected exams at no cost to students.
• A public apology from both WAEC and the Ministry, as well as a comprehensive review of their examination logistics and emergency response strategies.
• N100 billion in general and exemplary damages for the trauma, mental anguish, and violation of students’ rights.

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In his filing, Ufeli argued that “thousands of students were forced to sit for exams in ‘unsafe, dimly lit, and hazardous environments,’ often without adequate lighting or security.”

He maintained that such conditions breach students’ constitutional rights to human dignity, fair hearing, and life, as protected under Nigerian law and international treaties.

“The Respondents failed in their constitutional and statutory duties to protect the rights of students during a high-stakes national examination. The result is widespread psychological trauma, disruption of academic performance, and exposure to physical harm,” the application stated.

The suit holds both WAEC and the Ministry responsible for what it describes as administrative negligence, logistical failure, and gross indifference to the welfare of young Nigerians.

Condemning the agencies’ actions, Ufeli said in a statement accompanying the suit:
“This case is not just about one paper. It is about the future of a generation. The law does not permit the State or its agencies to sacrifice the rights and well-being of students on the altar of bureaucratic ineptitude.”

He also referenced reports from the National Assembly, media, and civil society groups which support claims of widespread irregularities, including delayed exam materials and chaotic conditions at many exam centres.

As of press time, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

WAEC faces N100bn lawsuit over midnight exams