Abuja, Nigeria – March 18, 2025 – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a strong warning to Nigerian tertiary institutions, urging them to take result verification seriously, especially for Direct Entry (DE) admissions.
JAMB raised concerns that some institutions are failing in their responsibility to verify candidates’ credentials, allowing individuals with fake A’level certificates to gain admission while hardworking, deserving students are left behind.
The Board emphasized that this negligence is putting the future of Nigeria’s education system at risk, as fraudulent candidates continue to exploit loopholes to secure university admission.
Shocking Discovery: Over 90% of Results Verified at BUK Were Fake
JAMB’s warning follows an alarming report from Bayero University, Kano (BUK), which revealed that out of 148 A’level results submitted for admission, only six were genuine.
This means over 90% of the results were forged—a discovery that shocked the education sector and raised urgent questions about how many other institutions may be unknowingly admitting unqualified candidates.
In response, JAMB created the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPEDS) to help institutions verify A’level qualifications, including certificates from foreign institutions.
However, despite NIPEDS helping to detect multiple cases of fake certificates, JAMB has warned that this system is not a substitute for institutional responsibility.
Fake Certificates Are on the Rise – Some Already Approved for Admission
JAMB disclosed that thirteen more A’level certificates were recently discovered to be fake after being submitted for admission consideration.
Shockingly, some of these fraudulent candidates had already been proposed for admission by institutions before JAMB flagged their documents as forged.
As a result:
- The affected candidates have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
- Institutions that approved admissions based on these fake results are now being investigated.
- JAMB has reiterated that any institution found aiding or failing to detect fraud will be seen as an accomplice in academic fraud.
This development has once again highlighted the urgent need for institutions to carry out proper verification before admitting candidates.
JAMB’s Message: If Institutions Fail to Verify, They Are Part of the Problem
JAMB stressed that while NIPEDS is a valuable tool, it does not replace the need for institutions to conduct their own verification.
The Board called on universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to take full responsibility for verifying every Direct Entry candidate’s qualification before granting admission.
JAMB cited one of the worst cases of forgery, where candidates submitted fake IJMBE results from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to gain admission into ABU itself.
This blatant act of fraud exposes the weakness in verification processes and the danger of institutions blindly accepting documents without confirming their authenticity.
The Consequences of Negligence: Innocent Students Will Suffer
JAMB made it clear that if institutions fail to verify results, they are indirectly harming innocent students who deserve a fair chance at admission.
When fake candidates take up limited admission slots, genuine students who worked hard to earn their qualifications end up being denied admission.
The Board urged all institutions to thoroughly check A’level qualifications, regardless of whether they were issued internally or externally, to prevent further damage to Nigeria’s education system.
JAMB’s Final Warning: No More Excuses for Fake Admissions
With JAMB tightening its monitoring system, institutions can no longer afford to be careless about result verification.
The Board warned that:
- Any institution caught admitting candidates with fake results will face serious consequences.
- Candidates found guilty of result forgery will be blacklisted and prosecuted.
- There will be no shortcuts or backdoor admissions—every candidate must meet the legitimate requirements.
JAMB’s message is clear: The time for lax verification is over. Institutions must take action now—or risk destroying the future of Nigeria’s education.