In Nigeria, examinations are supposed to be the final gatekeepers of merit, the sacred line between effort and reward. But what happens when the gatekeepers themselves are hacked, manipulated, and sold to the highest bidder? That is exactly the nightmare JAMB has uncovered in the 2025 UTME.
What was once an exam plagued by crude malpractice, cheat notes scribbled on thighs, impersonators lurking outside centres, or answers whispered in crowded halls—has now mutated into something far more dangerous: a sophisticated, tech-driven fraud industry. With AI impersonations, biometric spoofing, identity morphing, and cyber-hacks now at play, malpractice has evolved from a desperate student’s gamble into an organized syndicate where parents, CBT centres, and even tech experts are active participants.
The revelations are not just about cheating in an exam. They raise a chilling question: if the very system that determines who enters Nigeria’s universities can be so easily compromised, what does that say about the country’s broader future—its institutions, its governance, its values?
Tech-Driven Cheating Like Never Before
For years, UTME malpractice was raw and visible—smuggled papers, impersonators, roaming monkeys. Not anymore. JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed a chilling new reality: “biometric and identity fraud” has gone high-tech. Stolen fingerprints, image morphing, biometric spoofing, and albinism falsification are now the cheating tools of choice
These aren’t isolated incidents. The special committee JAMB set up is investigating 6,458 suspect cases, including 4,251 finger-blend manipulations and 192 AI-assisted impersonations. Add to that 1,878 false disability claims, multiple NIN registrations, and widespread collusion with CBT centres. The rot is not just vast—it’s systemic.
Parents and CBT Centres: From Passive to Active Participants
Exam fraud was once a candidate’s solo act. Now, parents are authors.
Parents sponsoring fraud: In Osogbo, students and tutors say parents paid up to ₦250,000 for “miracle centre” operations. One revealed: “Your system logs out… then a proxy writes.”
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CBT centres aiding fraud: Some centres are reportedly sharing IP addresses and disabling LAN controls to allow remote hacks during exams. “Not every centre,” but enough to corrupt the whole system.
The boundaries between education, technology, and crime have blurred. This is exploitation, not desperation.
JAMB’s Emergency Response
JAMB has not been idle. Here’s how they’re fighting back:
* A 23-member Special Committee was inaugurated to investigate the 6,458 flagged candidates.
* The committee’s terms include identifying methods used, pinpointing culpable individuals, reviewing policies, and proposing preventive systems.
* Targets: fraudulent CBT centres and complicit parents face blacklisting and prosecution. A sweeping three-year ban now applies to perpetrators across exam boards, using NIN tracking for enforcement.
What Nigeria Must Remember
This isn’t mere exam scandal—it’s a societal rot. When cheating becomes transactional and tech-savvy, education is no longer a foundation; it’s a farce. If universities fail to act, qualified candidates will leave the system frustrated, while the dishonest rise unchecked.
That’s why JAMB’s next move matters: will they tighten oversight, revoke CBT accreditations, and demand transparency? Or will this be swept under the rug, with yet another generation cheated out of merit?
