UTME: How CBT operator got 15-year-old’s number during registration, attempted to woo her
A Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) manager has been arrested after reportedly engaging in inappropriate communication with a 15-year-old candidate during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration process.
The incident came to light when the candidate’s mother, who used her phone number for the registration, received unsuitable messages following the registration. Expressing her concerns on social media, the mother accused JAMB of negligence, prompting an investigation into the matter.
According to the mother, the Computer Based Test (CBT) manager, accessing the phone number from the registration form, mistakenly initiated a text conversation and persisted despite being informed of the teenager’s age. She further claimed that the individual instructed her to keep the interaction confidential.
In response to the public outcry, JAMB swiftly launched an internal investigation and collaborated with law enforcement to apprehend the accused staff member as well as an alleged accomplice.
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A spokesperson for JAMB stressed the organization’s dedication to data privacy and candidate safety, emphasizing their commitment to a thorough investigation and holding those responsible accountable.
The incident has raised concerns about potential data security vulnerabilities within JAMB and the exploitation of personal information. There are growing calls for stricter protocols and increased oversight to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future amidst mounting public pressure.
“JAMB takes data privacy and candidate safety very seriously,” a spokesperson for the exam board stated. “We are committed to working with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
“We reiterate that there is zero tolerance for any behavior that compromises the integrity of our processes or the well-being of our candidates.”
