Tag: JAMB

Just in: JAMB suspends 2017 UTME registration for 52 hours

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja on Friday announced the suspension of registration for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for 52 hours.

The decision was aimed at preventing any disruption during the conduct of the UTME mock examinations scheduled for Saturday.

The examination body, which put the suspension hour between 8:00pm on April 7 (Friday) and 12:00am on April 10 (Monday), said one million candidates have registered for the exam so far.

The Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who made the announcement at a press briefing in Abuja, however said candidates could also go to banks, NIPOST, Interswitch or Remita to procure PINs for registration on Monday.

According to him, there will be no sale of forms, registration and biometric capturing at the various centres in which the mock examinations would take place.

‎He said the mock examinations for interested candidates taking place on Saturday was intended to familiarise the candidates with the Computer-Based Test systems and generally forecast the challenges that may surface in order to proactively address them.

Oloyede reassured the candidates that there was no need for worry or anxiety; adding that in the next one week, eligible and interested applicants will be successfully registered, as, already, 1,000,000 applicants have successful registered.

While regretting all inconveniences caused as a result of the temporary closure of registration activities, the JAMB CEO assured everyone of the possibility of an extension of registration date‎, as, according to him, every applicant must be carried along.

He said, ‎”Saturday April 8 , 2017 has been set aside for the Mock UTME. To seamlessly achieve this, the Board has s‎uspended all activities relating to the registration exercise in any CBT centre from 8pm today, being Friday April 7 2017 and to resume on Monday April 10 2017.

‎”There will be no sale of forms, registration and biometric capturing at the various centres in which the Mock Examinations are taking place. This however does not preclude any candidate from going to Banks, NIPOST, interswitch or Remita to procure pins for registration on Monday. This is to prevent any disruption of the process and conduct of the Mock Examination.

“The Mock Examinations are intended to familiarize our candidates with the CBT systems and generally forecast the challenges that may be faced ahead in order to proactively address them. It is just a rehearsal for us and candidates who want to experience the situation to expect during the actual examinations.

“Therefore, the sale of forms, registration and biometrics at CBT centres are to be suspended from 8:00 p.m. today till Monday, April 10, 2017. This notice is for the strict adherence of our officers and partners throughout the federation.

‎”While wishing the candidates and officials participating in the examination a successful mock exercise, we once again re-assure the candidates that there is no need for worry or anxiety. In the next one week, we believe it will be sufficient to capture the remaining candidates as about 1,000,000 applicants have successful registered.

“No one will be left behind as the deadline may be extended if there are applicants who do not succeed at registering due to circumstances beyond their control.”

April 7, 2017
JAMB registrations hit 600, 000 as exam body insists no extension period

Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB registrations have so far hit 600, 000 candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across the country.

Dr Fabian Benjamin, Head of Public Relations for the exam board, made the jamb registrations mark known on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bwari, FCT.

He said that JAMB was not going to extend jamb registrations period, saying that before deadline every candidate will register.

The spokesman said that measures were on ground to ensure the regulated platform could help candidates to get registered before the end of the month and to prevent irregularities in registration.

Benjamin observed that some applicants were seeking extension of jamb registration deadline due to irregularities in the ongoing registration process.

According to him, it is wrong for any person to also think that there is inadequacy in the number of centres stipulated to register candidates for the UTME.

“We have already registered 600, 000 candidates since sales of form began March 20, how can there be inadequate centres or lack of manpower, when we have more than 400 centres.

“There is no such delay as alleged by some candidates, the issue here is that plenty people are registering for the UTME at the same time.

“The internet is working, if it is not working how then we arrived at the total of 600, 000 that have so far been duly registered.

“Large numbers of applicants seeking to register for UTME go to the Banks allocated for the exercise that is why there seem to be some form of delays and irregularities.

“Before we used three banks and now it is 15 banks because the period is short, but we are not going to extend the registration period, before deadline every candidate will register,” he said.

JAMB spokesman told NAN that the initiative for use of the platform to register candidates for the UTME was in line with the Board’s policy to ensure standards operation.

He, however, said that 25 persons have been arrested and handed over to the Police for illegal registration and sale of the 2017 UTME materials to candidates across the country.

He mentioned that the suspects were arrested by a combined team of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU); members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the NigeriaPolice Force.

April 3, 2017
JAMB arrests 25 persons over illegal sale of UTME materials

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has arrested 25 persons over illegal registration and sale of 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) materials.

JAMB registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede said the individuals arrested were selling registration materials to the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to candidates.

The suspects, he said, were arrested by a combined team of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU); members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force.

Oloyede said the e-Brochure and e-Syllabus, which were meant to be free were being sold by the culprits as high as N800 each nationwide.

He also said the culprits were extorting money and inflating cost of registration for candidates.

“Our quality assurance unit, particularly the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit had to go out to see what was happening, following reports of extortion.

“We were having reports that candidates are paying more than the N5,500 that is required.,” Oloyede said..

“Some of them inflated the prices of registration and application documents, so we had to arrest them to show Nigerians that those items were not supposed to be sold.

“The arrests were carried out across the country yesterday April 1, and we have handed them over to the Nigerian Police for prosecution, ” he said.

He urged applicants seeking to register for the forthcoming UTME to go about their registration in line with due processes, to avoid hitches associated with irregularities.

He noted that JAMB would stick to its stipulated April-ending deadline for registration for this year’s examination.

Oloyede debunked complaints about poor internet connectivity.

According to him, many of the business centres who wanted JAMB to return to the old practice or producers of the scratch cards are behind the complaints.

Oloyede also assured all applicants that they would be registered for the exercise before the end of the month.

NAN

April 3, 2017
Confusion as banks, JAMB trade blames over delays in registration

With Benue candidates encountering more difficulties in their bids to register for the 2017/2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), banks and the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) have continued to trade blames.

While JAMB has accused the banks of causing the delays, the banks have shot back, arguing that JAMB was solely responsible for generating the Personal Identification Number (PIN), which was the main cause of the delay

Mr Simeon Isimishere, the Operations Manager of Zenith Bank, Makurdi branch, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Makurdi that the banks were not responsible for the delays experienced by applicants seeking to register the JAMB examinations.

Isimishere expressed surprise at the allegations by Mr Samuel Umuru, Head of JAMB office in Makurdi, that the banks were responsible for the delays and confusion.

“`How can JAMB blame the banks? Generating the PINs is the main headache and that is solely handled by JAMB. The banks only issue what has been generated and given to them, so how can one blame them?” he asked.

He said that the banks only receive the payments and issue the PINs.

“The problem is that after getting the PINs, most applicants are unable to access the JAMB website.”

He explained that the initial PINs that were generated by the board had issues and could not be activated.

The official, however, disclosed that the banks were working with the board to resolve the issues and announced that the problems had been “brought down to the barest minimum”.

A cross section of the applicants, who spoke with NAN, however said that they were no more experiencing the challenges.

An applicant, Adasu Emmanuel, said that he had difficulties activating the PIN that was given to him from the bank and made several trips, from the bank to the JAMB office, to rectify the problem.

“Already, the problem has been fixed. We fixed it this afternoon (Friday),” he said.

Another applicant, Gloria Asom, who was still on the queue in the bank, also agreed that there was much improvement because “the queue is moving fast and there is no much confusion again”.

She said that the lines were moving fast, but added that applicants were returning to the bank to complain of invalid PINs.

Reacting to the damage in the Makurdi JAMB office, Mr Moses Yamu, Public Relations Officer of the Benue Police Command, said that the protesters were dispersed before they could commit much havoc.

He said that no suspect was arrested, but disclosed that investigation was ongoing.

“Normalcy has been restored and officials of the examinations board have resumed their duties,” he said.

NAN recalls that applicants seeking to purchase the JAMB forms besieged the Makurdi JAMB office on Thursday, to protest the cumbersome registration process.

The angry applicants broke windows and destroyed the office signpost.

April 1, 2017
Association raises alarm over fake JAMB forms

The Computer-Based Test Centres Proprietors Association of Nigeria (CPAN), has raised alarm over the existence of illegal centres currently selling fake 2017 JAMB Registration Forms in Imo.

The Chairman of the association, Comrade Chidiebere Egboh told newsmen in Owerri on Monday that the fraudsters were also collecting money to place candidates in `special centres’, to cheat during the examination for entry into tertiary institutions in the country.

He described the development as `dangerous’, and alerted prospective candidates that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board [JAMB] was yet to announce the fees and date for the commencement of registration.

“The fraudsters play fast one and extort N15, 000 and above from thousands of unsuspecting prospective JAMB candidates.

“The consequences are that the fraudsters will elope with candidates’ money and they will not have genuine centres to write the examination.

“The issue of ‘special centres’ had been clamped down. We must emphasis that there will be nothing like ‘special centre’ any longer.

“CPAN has vowed to provide grounds for equal opportunity to all genuine candidates to gain admission into tertiary institutions of their choice,” he said.

Also speaking, Chief Larry Osuagwu, Director of one of the accredited centres, disclosed that the association has set up a committee to monitor the examination and sensitise staff on the format.

He advised prospective candidates to identify genuine accredited centres by going through JAMB website to avoid falling victims to fraudsters.

Osuagwu advised parents and guardians not to purchase any JAMB form for their wards, as the Board has not started the sale of the 2017 JAMB forms.

February 6, 2017
I wrote JAMB 6 times -Gospel artiste reveals

Pita Linus is a soulful gospel artiste whose forte lies in his worship melodies.He began singing at the Upper Room Missions Church, Lagos, Nigeria where he sang as part of the children’s choir, taking the lead role and training other kids, growing in creativity and confidence.

Fast forward to 2017, Pita has graced national and international platforms, recorded 2 albums and has shared the stage with the likes of Travis Greene, Sammy Okposo, Tim Godfrey, Midnite Crew and lot’s more. It has not always been this rosy for Pita.

The suave singer shared his story on Instagram with Unfiltered a platform for sharing inspiring Christian stories.

According to him :”I wrote JAMB 6 times. My results were withheld the first 4 times and I felt there was no way I was writing JAMB again. I had just started discovering my love for music. My mum was in tears as she wanted me to go back to try JAMB again. So, she bought the JAMB form herself because I wasn’t interested. I’d made up my mind that I was done with school and would just make money from music. I eventually wrote the exam for the 5th time and had a good score. I also had a good score (90 over 100) in Post UME but I still didn’t get admission. It was really weird and at that point I gave up.

A friend of mine who believed so much in me got me the JAMB form again, and because this was the 6th time, I wasn’t bothered. In fact, I went to sing somewhere in Oyo Town and it was a vigil. My exam was the next morning. I got to the exam hall late in Ibadan. I was 30 minutes late so they punished me by keeping me outside for an extra 15minutes. So far I had missed 45 minutes of the exam. I honestly wasn’t bothered.

I walked in majestically afterwards and didn’t apologise to anyone because I felt they were still going to withhold the result again. I wrote the exam and walked out. (At this time, I knew the syllabus like the palm of my hand.) I scored 257. I wrote Post UME and I got my admission into the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

I had a good time in UNILAG. I ended up studying Philosophy and in my final year, right before my convocation I had an accident. But before my accident, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a big boy. I wanted to have so much money like my brother and just be one of those young men controlling things before age 30. It looked like things were actually going well. There were a lot of ups and downs but things were looking good. I got a good job in my final year and my salary was great, so I felt life was good.

I had stopped singing. I’d seen money, and my dreams had started coming to life. People kept on asking me why I wasn’t singing anymore. But I liked where I was, the money was good and church wasn’t going to give me that kind of money.

He also revealed the accident that singularly changed his life and made him rediscover purpose

Hear him:” So, on this particular day I was going to minister at my Pastor’s birthday. Prior to that time, my Pastors had been telling me, “The life you’re living is not you. You’re supposed to be doing ministry.” but I wasn’t having it. To be honest, I wasn’t living a great life. I wasn’t going to church anymore.”

“In retrospect, I feel God wanted to get my attention. So, while I was driving, this man just drove into me and destroyed my car. I was in the hospital, my right arm got broken and I couldn’t use it for over 2 years. I then made a promise to God that I was going to go back to him. I quit my job. The album, ‘As I Am, The Journey So Far’ was birthed after my accident.”

January 7, 2017
JAMB, CBT centre owners meet over 2017 exams

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says arrangements have been concluded to have an interaction with owners of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres in the country ahead of the 2017 UTME.

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the meeting which comes up on Tuesday at the University of Lagos is to fine tune all areas of challenges geared towards conducting a hitch-free examination in 2017.

It said that the meeting would determine the number of centres to be used for the 2017 all CBT Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board (UTME) exercise.

“These are centres that must have a minimum of 250 and above terminals (computers).

“We will not hesitate to disqualify any centre that falls short of the requirements,’’ the statement said.

“We will equally not compromise on the selection of these centres as they will fully be responsible for our registration and examinations and other related responsibilities that they will be saddled with from time to time as we introduce new measures.’’

It added that the board decided to come face to face with owners of these centre to ensure it got first hand information on the challenges they were faced with in the course of the examinations.

“As partners in progress, we need to sit down on a round table and tell each other the truth so as to get to the root of all the hiccups.

“We should all feel concerned even if it was just one centre that had challenges or hitches during the conduct of the last examination.

“Nigerians expect a lot from us and we must strive not to fail them.

“We are looking at strengthening what was done holistically to improve on the previous exercises,’’ the statement quoted the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede as saying.

It added that the board was committed to giving Nigerians globally accepted standard in the conduct of the examinations.

The statement said that the board would commence the sale of application forms soon and urged prospective candidates not to patronise any self-acclaimed agent as the board had not and would not appoint any.

It urged candidates to always visit the board’s website for information.

The statement noted that in a few months, the board had been working tirelessly on processes that were connected to the conduct of the examination.

It added that the board had taken stock of all the challenges that were recorded during the 2016 exercise, especially CBT centre-related issues.

It said the board had resolved to give every Nigerian child desirous of tertiary education a level playing ground to compete for the available space in these tertiary institutions.

“We are mindful of the fact that any child that writes in a dysfunctional centre is at disadvantage.

“All candidates must have same conditions, atmosphere and working facilities,’’ the statement said.

December 12, 2016