Students in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State continue to face immense hardships as the 2025 UTME approaches, due to the complete absence of accredited JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in the area. While their peers in other regions register and sit for exams with ease, Baruten students are forced to embark on costly and risky journeys to neighboring states like Oyo to complete their registration and exam processes.
Many students have shared painful accounts of their experiences. Nineteen-year-old Azeez Nodrata Olashubomi described the mental and financial stress of traveling from Baruten to Saki in Oyo State just to register and complete biometric capture for the UTME. “I spent almost a day just trying to get captured after registration,” she recalled.
Jibril Fadillah, another candidate, expressed deep frustration over the government’s neglect, stating, “Our local government cannot provide us with just a single CBT centre. It was difficult and shameful to travel just to register for JAMB.”
Aside from the financial toll, the students face grueling trips on untarred, dangerous roads. One student revealed that she had to sleep in a strange town for three days due to delays, without any preparation for an overnight stay. The cost of transportation alone sometimes exceeds the actual registration fee, with a round trip to Ilorin costing as much as ₦24,000—an amount many families cannot afford.
Despite Baruten’s status as one of Kwara State’s high revenue-generating LGAs, no accredited CBT centre has been provided. Reports show that Baruten received ₦14.6 billion between 2020 and 2023, including ₦3.6 billion in VAT revenue. However, nearly ₦3.4 billion of that was deducted by the Kwara State government to support other LGAs.
In 2023 alone, Baruten earned ₦4.8 billion, but only ₦272 million was spent on capital projects—with a meager ₦43.1 million allocated to road construction. Basic infrastructure remains lacking, including schools, electricity, healthcare, and internet access. The result is a region with potential, but one whose youth are being left behind.
Mr. Musa Idris Buko, a public affairs analyst, blamed the situation on poor leadership and lack of accountability. “The people in charge of the LGA do not provide any form of stewardship or responsibility. Citizens don’t know how much comes to the LGA or how it’s spent,” he said.
Students like Habibullah Temako and Mohammed Danjuma Woru also echoed the same concerns. For many, the financial strain, the dangerous roads, and the lack of local support have turned the simple act of UTME registration into a nightmare. “We’re being punished just for wanting an education,” Danjuma said.
Experts say the problem is solvable. Engr. Almajiri Umar Faruk pointed out that many schools in Baruten already have computer labs that could be upgraded to meet JAMB standards—if only the political will existed. “This is not far-fetched. It just requires urgency and commitment,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the local government’s Education Secretary, Mr. Idris Woru Yusuf, admitted that existing facilities fall short of JAMB’s requirements. He cited poor internet access and a lack of enough computers as key obstacles, revealing that the only available hall was built by a former lawmaker and contains just 40 systems—far below the 100–200 computers needed for accreditation.
For now, the question remains: will the authorities act swiftly to address this growing concern, or will Baruten’s students continue to bear the brunt of neglect in their pursuit of higher education?