Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has explained that the exclusion of Miss Kareem Kaamilah Omolarami, the 13-year-old candidate who scored 371 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), from the final phase of the underage admission screening was not an error but a procedural outcome based on official records from Nile University of Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday by JAMB Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board noted that Kaamilah met the first two of four stages in the underage admission screening process but was reported absent by Nile University during its internal screening exercise — a mandatory third stage.
“Her non-invitation to the final stage was not due to any administrative oversight, bias, or procedural lapse on the part of the Board,” JAMB clarified. “It was a direct consequence of the university’s official report confirming her absence.”
JAMB explained that underage candidates undergo a four-step evaluation: scoring at least 320 in UTME, achieving 80% or higher in the SSCE, passing the university’s internal screening, and finally, a JAMB-led panel review that includes Vice-Chancellors, civil society representatives, and education experts.
The Board disclosed that Miss Kaamilah had filed a formal complaint through JAMB’s support portal on October 7, 2025, contesting her exclusion.
In response, the Board has demanded a formal explanation from Nile University and is awaiting its report before making a final determination.
Meanwhile, the Board said it would proceed to release the admission results of 84 successful underage candidates who completed all four screening stages to their respective institutions.
“All candidates are advised to exhaust JAMB’s internal communication channels for redress before approaching the media,” the statement added. “These mechanisms are more effective in ensuring timely and accurate resolutions.”
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