We have no record of FUTA graduate — JAMB insists

A cloud of uncertainty now hangs over the academic future of Basola Jamiu Owodunni, a Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) graduate, after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) insisted it has no record of his admission into the institution.

Basola, who claims to have gained admission through JAMB’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2017, made an emotional appeal in a video that has gone viral. In the over four-minute clip, the young man, who described himself as an orphan, recounted how he began his studies at FUTA in 2018 and graduated in 2024, only to be told by JAMB after seven years that his admission was “fake.”

According to him, the shocking discovery came when the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reportedly rejected his mobilisation details based on JAMB’s assertion that he wasn’t officially admitted.

Reacting to the outcry, JAMB released a statement on Sunday through its Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, confirming that the name “Basola Jamiu Owodunni” does not appear in its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

“While there may be no dispute regarding his attendance at the university in question, JAMB asserts that he is not admitted by its records as he did not follow due process,” the board said.

JAMB also clarified that admissions are solely processed based on recommendations from universities and not initiated by the board. It added that it lacks the authority to “insert” any unprocessed admission on the platform to enable NYSC or other stakeholders to recognise such candidates.

The Board took a firm stance, describing Basola as “an unknown entity” in its records. It also criticised attempts to use his background as a sympathy card in the ongoing controversy.

“The narrative of him being an orphan or from a disadvantaged background should not serve as emotional leverage in this matter,” the statement read.

JAMB further alleged that a document Basola is in possession of “did not emanate from its system” and urged him to reveal the source of the document to aid its investigations.

“This serves as a reminder that candidates should only accept admission offers that are first processed through CAPS and printed accordingly,” it warned.

However, the board concluded by stating that if Basola is eventually found to be innocent, it would not hesitate to support him.

“One of our core philosophies is to protect the rights of all candidates against exploitation, and we will not hesitate to support Basola if he is found to be in compliance with the law,” the statement added.