Scrap JAMB now, Actress Mary Njoku tells FG
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Mary Remmy Njoku, has called for the scrapping of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, describing it as an unnecessary burden on students seeking admission into Nigerian universities.
She made this known in a post shared via her Instagram page on Thursday, where she questioned the relevance of the examination body in today’s academic system.
According to Njoku, the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) should be enough to qualify students for university admission.
She also shared her personal struggle with JAMB, revealing that she failed it several times before finding purpose in the movie industry.
“Why is it necessary to take the JAMB exams to gain admission into universities? Isn’t the SSCE sufficient? I don’t understand the need for JAMB + post-JAMB when the SSCE already shows we’ve completed Secondary School,” she wrote.
She added that the experience nearly shattered her dreams as a young student.
“Speaking from experience, JAMB almost ‘jammed’ my life. Literally. After sitting for it multiple times without admission, I thank God for NOLLYWOOD. That detour gave me purpose, but honestly, if you ask me (I know nobody is asking), I truly believe JAMB should be scrapped.”
The Rok Studios boss argued that if universities want to screen students further, they can simply raise the number of required credits in key subjects instead of forcing applicants to write another exam.
“Why should students who already passed the SSCE be forced to jump through yet another hoop? It discourages thousands of bright, capable young people every single year.”
Njoku, known for her vocal takes on social issues, said her comments were not a campaign but a reflection of what many Nigerian students silently go through every year.
JAMB was established in 1978 to standardise the university admission process, but in recent years, it has faced criticism over its relevance and effectiveness, especially in 2025 where 379,997 candidates would resit the examination due to technical error.
