The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cautioned parents against enrolling underage individuals for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, issued the warning in response to a lawsuit filed by Mrs. Ifeanyi Eke against the Board. Mrs. Eke accused JAMB of sending inappropriate text messages to her 15-year-old daughter during the registration process.
While speaking to the press on Tuesday, Oloyede stated that JAMB is prepared to meet with Mrs. Eke. He emphasized that the individual who sent the messages is not associated with JAMB in any capacity.
The Registrar mentioned that JAMB promptly reported the incident to security agencies for appropriate action. However, Mrs. Eke proceeded with legal action against JAMB, seeking N100 million in damages.
According to Oloyede, the sender of the messages obtained the underage girl’s phone number, likely during the registration process at the center. He questioned how a 15-year-old could be deemed ready for university education, emphasizing that such individuals should typically be 18 years old, having completed six years each of primary and secondary education.
Regarding the lawsuit, Oloyede stated that JAMB would address the matter in court and let the legal system determine the outcome.
Furthermore, Oloyede emphasized that JAMB has taken measures against the registration center for negligence in allowing unauthorized individuals access to candidates. He warned that centers permitting parents to approach candidates during the screening process would be removed.
Oloyede urged parents to prioritize their children’s maturity before registering them for UTME, emphasizing that parental emotions and indiscipline should not jeopardize their children’s academic futures.
