ABUJA, Nigeria – In a surprising incident during the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a female candidate reportedly refused to attempt any question throughout her examination session, following the instruction of her grandfather to wait for a “miraculous intervention” instead of answering the test.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) disclosed the incident in a statement on Saturday, April 26, through its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin. While the Board did not reveal the candidate’s identity, location, or the Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre where this occurred, the episode highlights the impact of superstition on educational efforts.
Benjamin described the event as “another dimension of gullibility,” emphasizing that expecting miracles in an exam hall is unrealistic. “Of course, such miracles do not happen with JAMB,” he said, cautioning candidates against harboring “superstitious and baseless dreams of reaping where they did not sow.”
This unusual case raises concerns about how deeply ingrained beliefs and misinformation can affect students’ academic pursuits and potentially jeopardize their futures. It also underscores the need for increased awareness and guidance to help candidates focus on preparation and effort rather than superstition.
JAMB continues to urge all candidates to approach their examinations with seriousness and diligence, reminding them that success is a product of hard work and not chance.
The 2025 UTME is currently underway across Nigeria, with thousands of candidates participating in the computer-based exams to gain admission into tertiary institutions. JAMB has recently addressed other issues including false claims about exam centre postings and extended registration deadlines for direct entry candidates.