17/04/2026
Former Shekarau Aide Leads Outcry Over JAMB Candidate Hardship
A former aide to the former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, Alhaji Ibrahim Sadauki Kabara, has led concerned parents and guardians in condemning the hardship faced by candidates in the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a formal petition addressed to the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the group decried the posting of many candidates, particularly minors, to examination centres located far from their places of residence.
According to the petitioners, the development has imposed heavy financial burdens on families due to soaring transportation costs, forcing many parents to struggle for fares to enable their children participate in the examination.
They also raised serious concerns over the safety of under-aged candidates compelled to travel long distances, often in the early hours of the day, thereby exposing them to security threats and avoidable dangers.
The group described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that no child should be made to risk life and safety in pursuit of education.
They therefore urged Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to urgently review its centre allocation policy by ensuring candidates are posted within their Local Government Areas or close to their homes.
Other demands include the establishment of an emergency response desk for distressed candidates, special make-up examinations for affected students, and stronger collaboration with security agencies to guarantee safer movement for candidates.
The petitioners further called for wider consultations with parents, school proprietors and other stakeholders before future examinations.
They maintained that the UTME should remain a test of academic merit, not a test of hardship or survival.
Signed:
Ibrahim Sadauki Kabara
For Concerned Parents/Guardians of 2026 UTME Candidates