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Veteran journalist Tony Onyima cautions against ethnicising JAMB crisis amid broader global testing failures

I have been in journalism long enough to know when there’s an orchestrated and predetermined cover-up,” Osuji stated. “What I initially thought was an error may not be so upon further reflection

Published

12 months ago

May 16, 2025

Emmanuel Abiodun

In the wake of heated debates among Nigerian editors over the ongoing crisis surrounding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), veteran journalist and Fellow of the , has cautioned against ethnicising the challenges faced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Reacting to the growing polarization across various professional platforms, Onyima described the ethnic framing of the issue as “rather unfortunate,” warning that “primordial sentiments have overwhelmed the people who should rise above the noise.”

Mr. Onyima’s intervention comes as public outcry mounts over widespread technical failures during the UTME, resulting in significant disruptions and mass failures — a situation reminiscent of the 2024 examination cycle, where 77% of candidates scored below 200 out of 400.

Many parents and educators attributed the poor outcomes to system failures, including poor internet connectivity and power outages.

Highlighting that such problems are not unique to Nigeria, Onyima referenced recent global experiences with high-stakes standardised testing.

In 2024, India’s NEET-UG examination was marred by allegations of paper leaks and result manipulation.

The issue escalated to the country’s Supreme Court, which acknowledged malpractice involving at least 155 candidates but declined to order a nationwide retake due to the absence of systemic failure.

India’s JEE exams also saw technical glitches and inconsistencies in difficulty levels, prompting widespread dissatisfaction.

Similarly, in the United States, the College Board’s transition to a digital SAT in 2024 faced backlash due to technical difficulties, including software and connectivity issues that disrupted testing nationwide.

“In India and the U.S., there was no profiling or stigmatization of the agencies’ heads,” Onyima noted. “The authorities recognized the problems as systemic and dealt with them.”

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He called for a similar level of maturity and objectivity in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to pursue structural reforms rather than ethnic scapegoating.

The NEET-UG fallout led India to establish a high-level panel on examination reforms, while the College Board in the U.S. responded with transparency and alternative testing options.

“The recurring technical issues in standardised testing across countries underscore the need for robust infrastructure, transparent processes, and accountability,” Onyima stated. “As examinations continue to evolve digitally, stakeholders must prioritise reliability and fairness to maintain public trust. We cannot ethicize solutions.”

His statement has resonated with many professionals, especially in the media and education sectors, who agree that the focus should remain on institutional improvement rather than divisive narratives.