The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has praised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its exceptional transparency and accountability in addressing concerns over the mass failure recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), stating it should serve as a model for other public institutions in Nigeria.
He described JAMB’s open acknowledgement of its lapses as a rare and commendable act of leadership, one that reflects a deep sense of institutional responsibility.
In a statement signed by Paul Odenyi, the Deputy Director, Media & Communications of NOA and issued to journalists on Thursday, Onilu stressed that when institutions own their mistakes and act to correct them, they earn the respect and confidence of the people.
While commending the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for demonstrating the kind of integrity and courage that public leadership demands; NOA DG emphasized the need for JAMB to go a step further by initiating remedial measures that directly address the concerns of candidates, parents, and other stakeholders affected by the errors.
He added, “While recognition of mistakes is the first step, redemption and restitution are other necessary steps to be taken. Having decided to provide another opportunity to the candidates as a way of redeeming the errors, it is imperative that JAMB considers appropriate compensation to mitigate the stress and anxiety these candidates may have suffered.”
Onilu assured that NOA remains unwavering in its commitment to promoting a governance culture anchored in trust, integrity, and mutual respect between citizens and institutions.
Reflecting on the Citizen Codes under the National Values Charter, the DG reiterated that leadership is a collective responsibility.
“Every citizen, whether in public service or private life, has a duty to uphold the core values of integrity, accountability, and transparency. These values are not optional—they are the pillars of a just and equitable society.” He said.
He noted that the Agency’s campaign to entrench the ideals of the National Values Charter across all levels of society will remain a central focus, as Nigeria strives toward a more ethical, inclusive, and responsible governance culture.