JAMB flags FUTA graduate Basola Jamiu Owodunni admission 7 years later — Here’s what we know

Who Is Olasola Jamiu — And How Did His FUTA Journey Begin?

Olasola Jamiu is a graduate of Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). He gained admission into the university in 2018 and successfully completed his program in 2024. Like many students, his path was marked by hard work and financial struggles, especially after losing both parents during his time at the institution. But after surviving personal tragedy and achieving academic success, Olasola encountered a devastating blow: JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) flagged his admission as “unauthorised”—a full seven years after his UTME and shortly after graduation.

According to a report by TheCable, Olasola discovered the issue while trying to mobilise for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Despite spending years in school and being listed on FUTA’s official graduation roll, JAMB’s record reportedly showed no evidence of his admission. The issue has since left him unable to participate in NYSC, thereby stalling his professional future.

Why Did JAMB Flag Olasola Jamiu’s FUTA Admission After Seven Years?

The main question being asked by many Nigerians is: Why would JAMB wait until after graduation to flag a student’s admission? According to Jamiu, he sat for the 2017 UTME, and all his documentation was processed through FUTA before being fully admitted into the Civil Engineering department in 2018. He went through four years of study (plus an extended academic calendar) and graduated in 2024. Yet, after completing his program, he was told that JAMB had no record of his admission, and as such, his NYSC application could not proceed.

What makes this more confusing is the fact that he was able to access his JAMB portal, saw his scores, and even printed out documents at the time of admission. However, he claims that recent checks show no link between his JAMB records and his time at FUTA. JAMB has since flagged the admission as irregular or unauthorised. This has raised serious questions about the credibility and reliability of Nigeria’s central admissions system, particularly when genuine students can be erased from records despite successfully completing their education.

JAMB Denies Approving Olasola Jamiu’s Admission into FUTA — What Does That Mean?

Following the uproar, JAMB released a statement denying that it approved the admission of Olasola Jamiu into FUTA. As reported by Punch Newspapers, the exam body clarified that his name was not among those officially admitted through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). CAPS is JAMB’s designated portal for validating all admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

This position implies that Olasola may have been admitted through an internal university process not formally validated by JAMB. However, this claim is being challenged by those who argue that a student cannot independently process admission or graduate from an accredited university without institutional backing. It is especially troubling that the issue is only being raised years after he completed all academic requirements and was recognized as a graduate by the university.

JAMB’s defense is rooted in its mandate to monitor and regulate admissions into Nigerian universities, but the lack of early detection or flagging until the point of NYSC mobilization raises concerns about systemic lapses. Many are now questioning how many more students may have been affected by similar issues that were only discovered when it was too late.

What Is FUTA’s Role in the Controversy Surrounding Olasola Jamiu’s Admission?

In this unfolding drama, FUTA has yet to offer a detailed public explanation regarding how a student could complete a full course of study without proper JAMB clearance. Although it is not uncommon for universities to admit students while still resolving internal admission issues, the fact that Olasola’s case was never regularised or flagged during his years of enrollment is unsettling.

FUTA issued a brief acknowledgment that the case is under internal investigation but did not deny that Olasola was a legitimate student who went through their academic processes. The silence has frustrated many observers who believe the university shares responsibility for ensuring that every admitted student complies with JAMB requirements. The case has now gone viral, with many calling for a clear policy that prevents institutions from allowing students to graduate without fully validated JAMB records.

What Happens to Olasola Jamiu and Other Affected Graduates of FUTA and Other Schools?

Sadly, Olasola Jamiu is not alone. According to reports, over 14,000 students from various Nigerian universities have been flagged by JAMB for similar issues. These students, like Jamiu, went through their academic programs, graduated, and were even cleared for convocation—only to find out that their admissions were considered “unauthorised” by JAMB.

Many of them have been denied NYSC mobilisation, which is often a critical requirement for employment in Nigeria. Some affected students claim they were subjected to harassment, interrogation by the DSS, or pressured to bribe their way through JAMB’s regularisation process. This has prompted widespread outrage among students, graduates, parents, and education advocates. Calls have intensified for an amnesty or reconciliation framework to be introduced for genuinely affected individuals who had no knowledge of the administrative errors committed by institutions or JAMB.

What Are Nigerians Demanding from JAMB and FUTA in Olasola Jamiu’s Case?

The Nigerian public is demanding immediate action. Social media platforms have been flooded with hashtags like #JusticeForOlasola and #FixJAMBSystem, as users rally in support of the young man’s plight. Activists and educational rights groups are calling on JAMB to:

• Publish a transparent list of flagged students.

• Reopen portals for affected individuals to regularise their admission without criminal implications.

  
  
  

• Collaborate with universities like FUTA to ensure that admitted students are properly captured in the CAPS database.

For FUTA, many believe the school must take public responsibility and assist Jamiu by working with JAMB to resolve the discrepancy. As of now, Olasola remains unable to process his NYSC registration or move forward professionally—a devastating outcome for a student who believed he had followed every legitimate step.

Who Takes Responsibility for Olasola Jamiu’s FUTA Admission Crisis?

The case of Olasola Jamiu serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the flaws in Nigeria’s admission and regulatory systems. Despite the promise of reforms through platforms like CAPS, the situation shows that students remain vulnerable to administrative failures that can shatter their future. As the story continues to trend, Nigerians are hoping for not just a resolution in Jamiu’s case, but a broader systemic reform that protects students from falling through the cracks.