JAMB issues warning against enrolling minors in UTME

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a cautionary message to parents and guardians, advising against enrolling underage candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The warning comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Mrs. Ifeanyi Eke, who alleged that inappropriate text messages were sent to her 15-year-old daughter during the registration process.

JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, addressed the matter, stating that the sender of the messages was not affiliated with the Board.

In an official statement released by JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin, Oloyede expressed the Board’s readiness to engage with Mrs. Eke.

He clarified that the alleged perpetrator was not a JAMB staff member but a co-student, an undergraduate at a university.

ALSO READ

• JAMB registers 141, 018 candidates, prohibits parents from coming to registration centres
• JAMB registers 695,361 candidates, suspends CBT centre for flouting its directive
• JAMB postpones 2023 mock UTME to March 30
• Candidates can now generate their profile codes for 2024 UTME registration – JAMB
• Reps committee flags JAMB’s recruitment of 300 staff

He said, “The person is not our staff, he is not even a staff of the centre, he is a co-student. He is just like a candidate, an undergraduate in one of the universities.

“And talking about our data, nobody has access to our data. The person got the information from the phone of the underage girl.

“How did your girl of 15 years get ready for university now? If she is law-abiding as she claimed. The law today is that you must spend six years before primary school, six years in primary school and six years in secondary school. By that time, you are 18.

“But when you reduce three years, you must have cut corners to make a 15-year-old child ready for university education.

“We will meet her in court, it is for the court to decide whether she deserves that money.”

Oloyede revealed that JAMB reported the incident to security agencies for appropriate action, but Mrs. Eke opted to file a N100 million lawsuit instead of cooperating with the investigative process.

Highlighting the age eligibility criteria for university admission, Oloyede questioned how a 15-year-old could be prepared for higher education, as the legal requirement is 18 years.

He suggested that corners may have been cut to expedite the child’s readiness for university.

The JAMB Registrar underscored the importance of maturity before registering for UTME, urging parents to adhere to age guidelines.

Oloyede disclosed that JAMB would take action against any examination center allowing unauthorized persons on the premises.

Additionally, he emphasized that centers should not disclose the identity of candidates’ parents, and appropriate measures would be taken against candidates violating the guidelines.

Oloyede further encouraged parents not to jeopardize their children’s future due to emotional impulses and indiscipline.

The matter is expected to proceed to court for a legal resolution.