Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, Founder and General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries, has urged the Federal Government to abolish the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, arguing that its examination process places unnecessary financial and logistical burdens on students and their families.
Chinyere raised the concerns during a Sunday sermon at the church’s international headquarters in Port Harcourt, where he questioned the continued relevance of the board in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.
The cleric maintained that JAMB had outlived its purpose, pointing out that universities still conduct independent screening exercises after candidates complete the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
“JAMB has lost its relevance because universities still organise their own entrance examinations after UTME,” Chinyere stated.
He also challenged the board’s early morning examination schedule, particularly the 6:30 a.m. sittings, describing them as a safety and financial concern for candidates and sponsors alike.
“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 queried.
Chinyere disclosed that many candidates are compelled to lodge near their examination centres overnight due to the early schedule, adding to the costs borne by parents and sponsoring organisations. He further criticised the posting of candidates to centres distant from their homes, urging the board to assign candidates to venues closer to their residences to reduce risks and expenses.
Security concerns also featured prominently in his address. The OPM founder referenced reports of the abduction of UTME candidates in Benue State, describing the development 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,” Chinyere revealed.
Comparing Nigeria’s admission framework with systems in other countries, he noted that several institutions abroad rely on direct applications and school based assessments rather than multiple high stakes examinations.
“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.
Chinyere warned that repeated admission setbacks risk swelling the population of out of school youths, and called on the Federal Government to adopt a more inclusive and student friendly admission framework. Omega Power Ministries has sponsored underprivileged Nigerians on local and international scholarships for more than 15 years.
Last Updated on April 21, 2026 by Ola Funmilayo
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