A contentious dispute between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Chinedu Okeke, the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) top scorer with an unprecedented 375 out of 400, has been resolved, according to education advocate Alex Onyia. The announcement, made via Onyia’s verified X account on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, comes days after JAMB accused Okeke of exam malpractice and identity fraud, sparking widespread public outrage.
Onyia stated, “We have now resolved the issue with Chinedu Okeke and JAMB. All evidence was sent to JAMB HQ yesterday for verification. He can now access his portal and has printed his UTME result.” He further declared Okeke’s 375 score as the highest in JAMB’s history, though the board has yet to issue an official response, fueling further criticism of its handling of the case.
The controversy began when JAMB questioned Okeke’s credibility, alleging discrepancies in his state of origin between his 2021 and 2025 UTME registrations. The board suggested he manipulated his identity to gain admission advantages, claiming he was a 400-level medical student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), while registering for mechanical engineering in 2025. Okeke, however, explained through Onyia that he struggled with medicine, prompting a course switch, and prepared for the 2025 UTME via Achievers Academy in Lagos.
Public reaction has been fierce. Critics like @Fajetunmobi accused JAMB of incompetence, writing, “If JAMB cannot independently validate its own results, this country is a mess.” Others, including @Chief_Ajiji, called the board’s actions an intentional attempt to discredit Okeke. Supporters, meanwhile, celebrated his achievement. @AdaIgbo00 hailed him as “a statement of brains, focus, and excellence,” while @TimedFrank praised Onyia’s advocacy, dubbing Okeke a “minister of education-in-waiting.”
Calls for JAMB to apologize have grown, with @tosinfalade demanding a public statement. Despite the allegations, no conclusive evidence has been presented by JAMB, and its silence post-resolution has deepened doubts about its credibility. @Afri_Kamara captured the sentiment: “Chinedu won for every Igbo youth targeted and silenced.”
As of 10:04 PM WAT on July 15, 2025, Okeke stands confirmed as the 2025 UTME top scorer, with JAMB’s ongoing silence casting a shadow over the organization’s reputation.
