• 4,830 others await verdict
Controversy surrounding the status of a civil engineering graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Jamiu Owodunni Basola, who has been unable to register for the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) over issues with his admission status, has been resolved, The Guardian reports.
This comes as the fate of over 4,830 candidates hangs in the balance, as they are yet to know their admission status. Recall that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had disclosed that it did not approve the admission of Basola, who graduated in 2024, insisting that his records were not found in its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
Basola and FUTA had complained to JAMB after the board described his admission as fake whenever he tried to register for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme.
The development led to public outrage against the examination body. But in an interview with The Guardian yesterday, Basola revealed that the matter had been resolved.
“Around 11:30 a.m. yesterday, I was able to log into my JAMB portal. And secondly, my admission status on the JAMB Matriculation List has changed from ‘fake admission’. I have been seeing ‘Congratulations, your name is on the Matriculation List’. Today (Monday), I was able to reprint my necessary documents: admission letter, result slip,” he told our correspondent.
Basola, who expressed excitement at the development, said his Head of Department had informed him days ago to be on the lookout and check his portal regularly.
He expressed gratitude to Nigerians and the media, noting that it was the pressure mounted by Nigerians and the media that facilitated the speedy resolution of the matter.
On future plan, he said: “We are still expecting JAMB to correspond with my school and NYSC to ensure my speedy mobilisation (for NYSC).”
The development raises concern about the status of other candidates, as the examination body had sent 10,514 candidates to the police for investigation for allegedly parading fake admission letters and documents.
In a statement on Sunday, JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, had disclosed that out of the 10,514 candidates, 5,669 were found to have fake documents.
“Between 2024 and May2025, when the Board submitted an update to the Federal Ministry of Education, a total of 6,903 candidates who were asked to rectify their minor discrepancies were cleared, leaving behind 10,514 who had been referred to their nearest designated police investigation offices.
“Among the 10,514 candidates, 5,669 were confirmed to have outright procured forged letters, while 4,832 candidates whose admission were then undisclosed to JAMB and who were being processed for condonement by their confessing institutions under a (2017-2020) ministerial waiver, impatiently engaged the syndicate to side-step the process,” Fabian stated.
Reacting to Basola’s case, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) described the news as a significant victory for justice and student welfare.
A statement by NANS Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, made available to The Guardian, explained that the umbrella body of Nigerian students had been advocating for Basola’s case, including writing an open letter to JAMB and applying sustained pressure through its Southwest Zone D.
The association’s efforts, it said, led to a decisive intervention by NANS National leadership. He emphasised that NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, played a crucial role in resolving the issue through direct engagement with relevant authorities.
