The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has revealed that it identified 15,000 candidates who forged admission letters to qualify for participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

This was revealed by the agency’s registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Monday at the 2025 Batch C pre-mobilisation workshop in Abuja.

Oloyede confirmed that those involved are being prosecuted for alleged forgery, disclosing that 17 Deputy Vice-Chancellors, several Deputy Registrars, and four JAMB staff are currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over similar allegations.

“One day I ran to your predecessor because I couldn’t believe that 15,000 candidates forged admission letters,” Oloyede said.

“As I speak with you, some deputy registrars are being tried by ICPC. Some deputy vice-chancellors, not less than 17, including four JAMB staff, are in prison custody. We took them to ICPC.

“Those who want to go to jail should do so knowingly, not by accident. I want to advise you: follow the rules and you will have less problems. I suggest you follow the right path and you will see that most of the problems that are self-created by you will be eliminated.”
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, emphasised the need to safeguard the credibility of the mobilisation process, noting that the organisation continues to face challenges from forged credentials, multiple registrations, and identity theft by unqualified individuals.

We all know that mobilising eligible Nigerian graduates for national service remains central to the NYSC’s mandate. As a matter of fact, mobilisation is the gateway to the service year and a vital link in preparing young Nigerian graduates for national integration and development. This key aspect of our operations can therefore not be allowed to suffer disrepute,” Nafiu said.

“Over the years, NYSC has earned public confidence for its transparent mobilisation process. We were able to do this in the analogue era and managed to transition that confidence to the digital era. For about 11 years now, we have continued to build a digital databank, and our mobilisation process is today almost fully digitised.”

The DG highlighted that the adoption of the NYSC Integrated System (NIS) in 2014 improved operational efficiency but also increased cyber threats.

“We have strengthened our digital defences and continue to invest in protecting the Scheme’s online assets,” he said, adding that activities of unapproved study centres and ‘degree mills’ remain a major concern.

Some of them operate under dubious affiliations with accredited institutions. Let me emphasise that the NYSC will continue to apply sanctions wherever such unethical practices are discovered. Low Data Management Capacity. Some officers handling mobilisation data still need to improve their digital literacy. Effective data validation and system management require continuous training and retraining.”

Director of Corps Mobilisation, Rachel Idaewor, commended the progress made in recent years due to innovative strategies and improved collaboration, but warned that challenges around data integrity persist.

“The fraudulent uploading of unqualified persons continues to affect the credibility of our mobilisation process negatively,” she said.

The integrity of our data is not just a technical challenge; it has far-reaching implications for the personal and professional futures of our youth. Accurate, reliable data forms the backbone of any successful operational strategy, enabling us to effectively mobilise our youth for national service.”

The workshop called on all stakeholders to address these challenges and uphold transparency and accountability in the mobilisation process.

The Federal Government has clarified that Mathematics remains a compulsory subject for all students sitting for O-Level examinations.

This was contained in a press statement issued on Sunday by Boriowo Folashade, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education.

Earlier in the week, Boriowo had announced that students in the arts and humanities would no longer be required to present a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for tertiary admission.

The announcement sparked mixed reactions from education stakeholders, with many arguing that the policy could weaken academic standards and promote laxity among students. However, in the latest statement, Boriowo explained that while the revised admission guidelines allow certain tertiary institutions to admit candidates into specific programmes without a compulsory credit in Mathematics or English, all students are still required to register and sit for both subjects during their O-Level examinations. “All students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level examinations,” the statement read.

She clarified that the adjustment applies only to admission criteria, not to the subjects’ compulsory status in the examination itself.

According to her, the reform is aimed at promoting equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development in line with the Federal Government’s education objectives.

“English and Mathematics remain essential tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning,” the Ministry added.

The statement also urged students, parents, and education stakeholders to rely on official communication channels for verified policy information.

When asked if the clarification signified a reversal of the Ministry’s earlier position, Boriowo replied, “No, this is not a U-turn, it’s a clarification on streamlined admission requirements to expand access to tertiary education.”

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has once again sounded the alarm over the rising incidence of examination malpractice during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board’s Special Committee on Examination Infractions has identified parents as responsible for about 80 percent of the cheating cases recorded.

Chairman of the committee, Jake Epelle, made the startling claim during an appearance on Monday’s episode of Channels Television’s Politics Today. He explained that many parents are directly involved in efforts to boost their children’s scores unfairly.

“Eighty percent of these infractions are caused by parents who want to give marks to their children that they don’t deserve,” Epelle stated.

The UTME is the key gateway for admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Despite JAMB’s transition to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) system aimed at curbing fraud, examination malpractice continues to pose serious challenges.

Over the years, JAMB has invested in advanced security technologies to tackle issues like impersonation and credential forgery. However, the 2025 UTME has unveiled more complex fraud techniques involving artificial intelligence and organized syndicates.

The committee’s investigation uncovered 4,251 cases of “finger blending,” a form of biometric manipulation, and 190 cases where AI-assisted impersonation involved morphing candidates’ images.

Additionally, there were 1,878 false disability claims, multiple registrations with fake National Identification Numbers, forged certificates, and numerous instances of collusion between candidates and criminal groups.

Epelle emphasized that the rise of technology-fueled cheating methods is making it increasingly difficult to maintain the integrity of national exams.

“This is the age of AI. While JAMB deploys cutting-edge technology, there are smart individuals working behind the scenes to undermine the system,” he explained.

He also highlighted the need for homegrown technological solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges rather than relying solely on imported tools.

“Every technology has its flaws, which is why I advocate for adaptive technology solutions designed specifically for our environment and challenges,” Epelle added.