On July 8, 2025, JAMB will announce the official cut-off marks for tertiary admissions in Nigeria. For over 1.9 million candidates, it’s more than a policy—it’s permission. After a year of delays, withheld results, and system hiccups, students stand quietly at the threshold, wondering if the door will swing open… or stay shut. In this country, marks hold doors—and not everyone holds the same handle.
When systems stumble, Trust Breaks
This year, exactly 379,997 candidates faced technical disruptions during the UTME. For many, it wasn’t just a technical failure but a blow to confidence. Some are still waiting for answers. And now, the system that delayed their results is deciding their fate. Can one policy meeting restore faith?
Numbers Don't Mean Neutrality
JAMB is expected to maintain the minimums: 140 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education. But one number across many inequalities can’t reflect lived reality. Some wrote their exams in silence and stability. Others fought power cuts, poor networks, or overcrowded centres. Marks hold doors, but too often, the keys are unevenly distributed.
Waiting Rooms of the Future
As July 8 approaches, homes across Nigeria feel tense. Dreams are on hold. Relocation plans, career paths, family finances—all waiting on one announcement. This is more than a mark. It’s a sorting mechanism for futures, and the line it draws isn’t always fair.
If one number can unlock or deny the future, we must ask: What else should we be counting? What measures truly reflect potential, and who’s being left outside?
