Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a caution to parents regarding the enrollment of minors in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of JAMB, delivered this warning in response to a legal action taken by Mrs. Ifeanyi Eke against the Board. She raised concerns about inappropriate text messages sent to her 15-year-old daughter during the registration process.
A lawsuit of N100 million has been filed by Mrs. Eke against JAMB and three others at the Federal High Court in Lagos, citing unsolicited and improper communication towards her daughter.
In a recent interview, Oloyede expressed JAMB’s willingness to address the concerns raised by the woman. He clarified that the sender of the messages was not affiliated with JAMB.
Following the incident, JAMB promptly reported the matter to the authorities for necessary action. Despite this, the woman proceeded with the lawsuit seeking N100 million in damages.
Oloyede stated, “The individual is neither our staff nor associated with the center; he is simply a fellow student, an undergraduate at a university.
“Regarding our data security, no unauthorized access is granted. The information was obtained from the minor’s phone.
“How can a 15-year-old be ready for university education? The mandatory education structure dictates six years of primary school, six years of secondary school, totaling 18 years before university eligibility.
“By registering a 15-year-old, shortcuts have been taken which raise questions about compliance with the law.
“The legal decision on the matter will be determined in court with Mrs. Eke,” he affirmed.
The Registrar emphasized that the individual obtained the victim’s contact information during a registration process at the center. Corrective actions have been taken against the center for its role in the incident.
“The centers do not have access to our database. The unauthorized data collection was due to a breach during the registration interaction at the center,” Oloyede clarified.
“We have addressed the center’s negligence issue and maintain our stance that parents should ensure their children are of appropriate age before UTME registration,” he advised.
“Any center allowing parent intrusion during candidate screenings will face repercussions including removal from our centers list.
“Parents should not jeopardize their children’s future due to emotional impulses and lack of discipline,” he concluded.