UTME of Boy Denied Admission to Study Medicine Last Year despite Scoring 319 Surfaces, Thrills Many

• A Nigerian man has proudly celebrated his younger brother on Facebook for his outstanding performance in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)
• The excited man said he was really pleased with his brother, who was denied admission last year to study medicine despite scoring 319 in the 2024 UTME
• Lawal Kehinde Anibaba, a geography teacher, shared with Legit.ng the implications of the 2025 UTME results on future curriculum planning and teaching strategies

Adokwu Daniel Adokwu, a Nigerian boy, has been celebrated on social media by his older brother, Iteji Wilson Adokwu, for his impressive UTME result.

According to Wilson, his younger brother scored 319 in the 2024 UTME and had 8 A1's in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams, but was unfortunately denied admission to study medicine, even after having 70% in his post-UTME.

Kid brother's UTME result

The man hailed his younger brother for scoring 334 in the 2025 UTME. He displayed his brother's UTME result alongside his picture. He wrote:

"Meet my only kid brother in whom i am well pleased,u really made me proud,last year he scored 319 on his first attempt and got 8 distinction in waec but was denied admission to read medcine after scoring 70% in post utme for reasons best known to our system,this year he just scored 334 again, Nigeria is blessed with photogenic brains, congratulations kid bro."

The boy scored 72 in English, 91 in Physics, 77 in Biology, and 94 in Chemistry.

Implications of 2025 UTME results on teaching strategies

Legit.ng asked Lawal Kehinde Anibaba, a geography teacher, about the possible implications of the 2025 UTME results on teaching strategies and curriculum planning going forward.

In his response, the Lagos-based teacher said it is an eye-opener for educators and stakeholders, adding that the curriculum needs to reflect current education trends that are accepted globally. He said:

"Well, this is an eye-opener for educators and stakeholders going forward. The curriculum needs to reflect current trends in education that are acceptable in all other countries. Nigeria's education sector needs a complete overhaul of its curriculum. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

"Teaching methods need to change, teachers and students need to be more computer literate, and schools should have a functional ICT laboratory to help the students. Next year, WAEC is also planning on going fully digital, by conducting their exams with computers. This year’s failure in the JAMB exam has just shown that Nigeria might not be ready for such a step with WAEC, and it might also lead to mass failure!

"The solution is simple! Schools should employ ICT-inclined teachers who can help students achieve their goals. Imagine still teaching a subject like computer studies, and the students do not even have a computer to see all the things the teacher is talking about?? Everything is still theoretical! No practicability of this subject and many more subjects like this, where the students only do theoretical aspects, and are expected to perform wonders in practicals, when they’ve had little or no practice.

"When the curriculum is planned in such a way that caters for the needs of the students, and subjects are taught with enough passion and enthusiasm by teachers, then I believe that with time, there will be an improvement in the educational sector, and favourable results in external exams."

People celebrate boy's UTME result

Legit.ng has compiled some reactions to the post below:

Ekom Etim said:

"Nigeria and drama!

"He scored 319, and was denied admission. Just you imagine?

"Affliction shall arise the second time, Amen."

Benjamim Akatu Daudu said:

"Congratulations the awaiting Doctor, God will surely see you through."

Nancy Ogudu said:

"Congratulations to him and I pray God grant him admission this year."

Tavershima Israel Ifan said:

"That's awesome, God will see you through in Jesus name."

Isaac Onah Ejeh said:

"These are awesome, congratulations bro."

Reuben Anyebe said:

"Congratulations Daniel you made all of us proud of your achievement. Please keep up the good work."

Blecyn Adokwu said:

"Absolutely awesome, more wisdom, knowledge and understanding from above."

Henry E Haruna said:

"Congratulations dear.

"No devil can denied the admission this time around."

JAMB admits error in results

Following the condemnation of how JAMB conducted the 2025 UTME, the exam body came out to apologise over the glitch in its system.

Before the apology, a candidate, Faith Opesusi, who could not handle the sadness that came with her low scores, died.

In a press statement, JAMB's head, Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, gave a detailed explanation of the review that was carried out as he took responsibility for the exam body's failure.

Expressing a tearful apology, he said:

"I understand that there are three powerful expressions which contain one word, two words and three words respectively. They are please, thank you and I am sorry. So, I appeal to the candidates and those affected by the error of our system to accept this explanation as the truth of the matter without embellishment, PLEASE. I apologise and take full responsibility not just in words."

On the way forward for affected candidates:

"We have decided that all the candidates affected in the 157 centres out of 882 centres will be contacted to retake their examinations starting from Friday, May 16, 2025.These candidates are to be contacted through text messages addressed to their registered phone numbers, their email addresses, their profiles and phone calls by JAMB. They are directed to reprint their Examination Slips for the rescheduled examination dates."

In a related story, Legit.ng reported that a lady had shed tears after making her younger brother miss his JAMB examination.

Lady rejects brother's UTME result

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a lady had rejected her brother's UTME result because it didn't reflect his academic abilities.

She asked that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), review the UTME result, which she claimed did not add up.

According to the lady, her brother has maintained a consistent record of academic excellence, as he scored A1 in six subjects and B's in two others during his WAEC exam. She attached a copy of his 2024 JAMB result, which shows that he scored 278.

Joseph Omotayo, the HoD of the Human Interest Desk, contributed to this report, adding JAMB's latest statement.

Source: Legit.ng