UTME: Candidates, JAMB official commend hitch-free process

…57,000 candidates sat for the 2017 UTME Saturday
Candidates participating in the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have applauded JAMB, organisers of the examination for match series put on ground in centres to ensure a hitch free examination.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 1.7 million candidates are writing the examination, which commenced on Saturday, May 13, nationwide.
NAN also reports that a total of 642, centres would be used for the examination with at least two members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in each of the centres.
In all, a total of 1,200 men of the NSCDC had been deployed to all the centres to beef security.
Miss Olajumoke Bello, one of the candidates who spoke to NAN at the WAEC International Office Ikeja, said that the exercise was hitch free and less stressful.
.Bello added that apart from a slight technical hitch in launching the browser and accessing the questions, all other things were what she described as ‘perfect’.
“The examination on its own and the process before the examination were very okay, coupled with the serene environment.
.“But, we initially had a challenge of getting to the question site because of a technical hitch which was also taken care of by the technical staff some minutes later.
“But despite that period of waiting, you can see I am already through with my examination.
.“My appeal, however, to JAMB is that they should not rest on their oars as it us not yet Uhuru.
.“The board should step up efforts in improving on the entire examination process in order to ensure an overall hitch free exercise,” she said.
.Another candidate, Samuel Ojudimu, also lauded JAMB for the logistics put in place to ensure a successful conduct of the examination.
“I will say that it is my first attempt in writing this examination, I must say that it was very interesting as stress free.
“The examination its self was okay at least for every average candidate that prepared well for it . I like the questions and by the grace of God, I will make it,” he said.
.Ojidimu, however, plead with JAMB to do more to improve the entire process.
At a centre in Iyana Ipaja, a candidate identified herself as Adeola, also commended JAMB for doing a good job in the area of peaceful and conducive environment.
According to her, all logistics needed to ensure a hitch free examination were put in place adding that it is a feat worth commending.
Mr Ojo Sunday, JAMB’s Principal Legal Officer and supervisor, at the WAEC International Office centre, told NAN that accreditation for the examination commenced at 7 am while the examination commenced at 8.00am.
.He said that a total of 231 candidates sat for the examination during the first session with a few of them absent.
He added that not less than 240 candidates were scheduled for each session during the examination.
According to him, the exercise coupled with a peaceful environment was hitch-free.
“We are happy with the entire examination process here.
“As you can see, all the candidates have gone in and are writing their examination peacefully.
.“We did our accreditation on time and the examination commenced in due course.
“The examination had been formated in a transparent manner and as such, has not had any issue of impersonation at least for now.
“You know, the examination has just commenced and might be too early to determine any unwanted development but so far, I can tell you that I am happy with the way things are going.
.“Having said that, however, I will also want to state that being the first day, we are bound to encounter, small hitches here and there, but as we go by, things get normalised, as it can only get better,” Sunday said.
Sunday added that he was anticipating a hitch free examination at the centre.
Meanwhile, not fewer than 57,000 candidates sat for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Saturday in 642 centres across the country.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who addressed newsmen at Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja, one of the UTME centres, said four centres encountered technical problems while one was being investigated for malpractices.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saturday marked the first day of the 2017 edition of the entrance examination into the nation’s tertiary institution in which no fewer than 1.7 million candidates are participating.
Oloyede also said the morning session examination commenced late in some centres while it started early in others.
“Out of 642 centres, we had problems with four in Bauchi, Kano,Uturu and Ekpoma.
“Everything was okay, there was a little disturbance in Ekpoma and we are monitoring what is going on.
“There was a little problem in Uturu; we are monitoring what is happening there too,’’ he said.
He said due to the bomb blast in Maiduguri on Friday night, JAMB decided to delay the examination for a while, adding that the examination had since commenced.
“Due to what happened over night and because of the militarisation of the campus, we had to delay the commencement of the exams in Maiduguri.
” Also the Seventh Day Adventist will not have exams in all the centres nationwide on Saturday,’’ he added.
Mr Enobong Bassey, a staff of the Digital Bridge Institute, said this year’s edition of the UTME was the best so far that the institution had conducted.
“Everything went smoothly, the examination was to start 8 am and all the students were seated by 10 minutes to eight.
“Though a few students came late because of the grace period, they were able to write.
“Where there was any issue with any system, there was no problem because we had sufficient backup system.
Some of the students, who spoke to NAN, said the examination went on well and they had no challenge using the computers.
Credit: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).