The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered a total of 585 fake A-Level certificates in 2025. This alarming discovery highlights the ongoing issue of certificate fraud in Nigeria’s education system, with authorities arresting four individuals in connection to the crime.
The revelation came from Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, during a closed-door meeting with staff members of the board. The meeting, which was held virtually on April 2, 2025, focused on preparations for the upcoming 2025 Mock-UTME and UTME examinations.
In the course of his address, Prof. Oloyede expressed his concern over the increasing use of forged academic credentials and noted the role of the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPOS) in combating this issue. The platform was introduced to manage and collect data related to post-secondary education in Nigeria, and it plays a significant role in detecting fraudulent certificates.
“The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has uncovered about 585 fake A-level certificates in 2025 alone. This startling revelation was made by the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a virtual meeting with staff of the board held on 2nd April 2025, in preparation for the 2025 Mock-UTME and UTME.
“He condemned this worrisome prevalence of fake A/L certificates, stating that it was to curb the menace that the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System was established as a platform for managing and collecting data related to post-secondary education in the country.
“He noted that more worrisome and heart-rending was the upload of 13 out of these forged IJMB certificates by the Professional Registration Centres, which are being investigated. He stated that out of the 13 cases being investigated by the police, four culprits have been apprehended and are currently assisting the police and relevant authorities towards apprehending the ringleaders of these examination cartels. He, however, added that the investigation revealed that there were internal collaborators in the institutions aiding and abetting this gross misconduct.
“The Registrar also disclosed that there were reports from some CBT on extortion of candidates for services expected to be free adding that this mind-boggling revelation was not too good for the system. He, therefore, enjoined staff to be committed to their duties and shunned those acts that could undermine the integrity of the Board.”
