Why we won’t announce names of 2024 UTME top scorers — JAMB

• Oloyede said that 1,989,668 candidates registered for the examinations held in 118 towns in 774 computer-based test centres (CBT)

The names of the top scorers for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, will not be made public, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has said.

The Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, made the disclosure at a press briefing in Bwari on Monday.

According to Oloyede, the board considers its UTME to be only a ranking examination, adding that it is also trying to avoid a reoccurrence of the ‘Mmesoma saga’ following the conclusion of the 2023 UTME.

Recall that Ejikeme Mmesoma, a 19-year-old student, claimed to score 362 as against her actual score of 249 in the 2023 UTME JAMB portal.

Oloyede said that 1,989,668 candidates registered for the examinations held in 118 towns in 774 computer-based test centres (CBT).

“It is common knowledge that the Board has, at various fora, restated its unwillingness to publish the names of its best-performing candidates, as it considers its UTME as only a ranking examination on account of the other parameters that would constitute what would later be considered the minimum admissible score for candidates seeking admission to tertiary institutions.

“Similarly, because of the different variables adopted by respective institutions, it might be downright impossible to arrive at a single or all-encompassing set of parameters for generating a list of candidates with the highest admissible score, as gaining admission remains the ultimate goal. Hence, it might be unrealistic or presumptive to say a particular candidate is the highest scorer given the fact that such a candidate may, in the final analysis, not even be admitted.

“However, owing to public demand and to avoid a repeat of the Mmesoma saga as well as provide a guide for those, who may want to award prizes to this set of high-performing candidates, the Board appeals to all concerned to always verify claims by candidates before offering such awards,” he explained