Nollywood Actress Mary Njoku Questions the Need for JAMB in University Admissions

Nollywood actress Mary Njoku has stirred a thought-provoking debate by questioning the relevance of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam in the Nigerian university admission process.

Taking to her Instagram story, Njoku asked:

“Why is it necessary to take the JAMB exam to gain admission into universities? Isn’t the SSCE sufficient? I don’t understand the need for JAMB + post-JAMB when the SSCE already shows we’ve completed secondary school.”

Her remarks come at a time when JAMB has been under intense scrutiny following the mass failure of candidates in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME). The board recently acknowledged errors affecting thousands of students and announced a retake for nearly 380,000 candidates across affected centres in Lagos and the South-East starting May 16.

💭 Opinion: Revisiting Nigeria’s Admission Process

Mary Njoku’s question cuts to the heart of a long-standing debate in Nigeria’s education sector — is it necessary to have multiple exams like JAMB and post-UTME when the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) already certifies secondary school completion?

While JAMB aims to standardize university admissions and assess readiness, the recent challenges and errors in exam administration highlight the system’s flaws. Perhaps it’s time for a thorough review to balance rigorous assessment with fairness, efficiency, and trust.

Education is the foundation for Nigeria’s future, and streamlining admissions could reduce stress on students and parents while maintaining academic standards.

📢 What Do You Think?

Should JAMB be abolished or reformed? Is SSCE alone a reliable indicator for university readiness? Join the conversation and share your views on Nigeria’s education admission system!