The Founder and General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has urged the Federal Government to scrap the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing the process as burdensome for students.
Apostle Chinyere made the call on Sunday during a sermon at the international headquarters of the church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he questioned the relevance of the current tertiary admission system.
He argued that multiple stages of assessment, including WAEC, UTME, and post-UTME, place excessive pressure on candidates and often force them to repeat the process if they fail to meet admission requirements.
“In Nigeria, you will write WAEC; after WAEC, you will write JAMB; after JAMB, you will write post-UTME; then you wait for the school cut-off mark and departmental cut-off mark. If you don’t meet it, you wait another year, register for JAMB again, and start afresh. It is very frustrating,” he said.
The cleric also said JAMB has become less relevant, arguing that universities still conduct additional screening after the UTME.
“JAMB has lost its relevance because universities still organise their own entrance examinations after UTME,” he added.
Apostle Chinyere further raised concerns about the 6:30 a.m. examination schedule, saying it exposes candidates to safety risks and additional costs, particularly for those required to travel long distances.
“Sometimes I wonder why JAMB fixes exams for 6:30 a.m. Do you know that for all my adopted children under OPM scholarships going for JAMB, I have to give them extra money to pay for hotels?” he said.
He explained that many candidates are forced to lodge near exam centres due to early morning timings and distant postings, which he said increases financial strain on families and sponsors.
“They cannot travel safely that early, so they have to stay overnight in hotels close to their centres. This creates additional financial pressure,” he stated.
The OPM founder also criticised the allocation of candidates to faraway centres, arguing that it heightens security concerns. He referenced reports of the reported abduction of UTME candidates in Benue State, describing it as troubling.
“I saw something on social media that 12 people who went to write JAMB in Benue State were kidnapped. It is really very unfortunate,” he said.
Comparing Nigeria’s system with admission processes abroad, he said some countries use more flexible approaches that do not rely on a single central examination.
“If you want to get admission into universities outside Nigeria, you don’t need JAMB. You apply to the university, they send you an unconditional letter of offer, and when fees are paid, a conditional offer follows after verification of results. They won’t ask you to write JAMB,” he explained.
He warned that the current system could contribute to an increase in out-of-school youths due to repeated admission setbacks.
Apostle Chinyere added that his organisation has sponsored educational scholarships for underprivileged Nigerians for over 15 years, stressing the need for reforms that improve access to higher education…….Continue Reading
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