32,000 candidates for Unilag’s post-UTME, says official

More than 32,000 candidates will write the 2015 post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) into the University of Lagos, according to the institution’s Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Olagoke Oke.

The examination is scheduled to hold from Aug. 12 to Aug. 14.

Oke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the figure was close to four times the 9,000 that was initially posted to the institution by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

NAN reports that JAMB in collaboration with some public universities had agreed to raise the bar of the cut-off marks of their institutions from 200 to 250 for the various courses.

The development had generated an outrage among candidates, their parents and other stakeholders, who called on Federal Government to intervene.

The decision was later reversed after consultations between the Prof. Dibu Ojerinde-led JAMB and the Federal Government.

Oke said:“I want to say that all logistics toward a smooth conduct of this examination are fully in place.

“We have always been ready for situations like this and have always got it right.
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“Before now, we were hoping to put logistics in place for the initial 9,000 candidates, but with the reversal of the decision, we now have to re-adjust and I want to say that we are fully prepared.

“All our computers and its accessories, the backups, alternative power supply as well as adequate personnel that will conduct the examination are all ready.’’

The deputy registrar said the university was compelled to extend the exercise to three days because of the large number of candidates seeking admission into the institution.

He, however, advised candidates to arrive early at the examination centres for a hitch-free exercise.