By Peter Omopo
Abuja, July 7, 2025 — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reinstated the admission status of Basola Jamiu Owodunni, a Civil Engineering graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), following earlier claims that he was admitted through fraudulent means.
The development comes after weeks of controversy surrounding Owodunni’s eligibility for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which had been stalled due to discrepancies in his admission records.
Owodunni, who graduated in 2024 with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.41, told PUNCH Online that he sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2017 and was admitted to FUTA in 2018. However, during his final clearance, the university’s Student Affairs Division flagged his NYSC mobilisation as invalid, citing that his name was missing from JAMB’s matriculation list.
“I was advised to verify my admission details, only to discover that my portal showed I had a fake admission,” Owodunni said. “After several attempts to access my JAMB portal failed, I wrote to the registrar, vice-chancellor, and chairman of the university’s admissions committee seeking intervention.”
On Monday, Owodunni confirmed to PUNCH that his JAMB portal had finally been unlocked, and his name now appears on the JAMB matriculation list, a key requirement for NYSC mobilisation.
“My name has now appeared on the matriculation list. I can access my portal and reprint my documents. It’s a big relief,” he said.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also confirmed the development. In a statement issued by its National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, the student body hailed the resolution as a “victory for justice and the welfare of Nigerian students.”
“This positive outcome is the result of coordinated pressure from NANS national leadership under our President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja,” Ajasa stated.
He added that the NANS South-West Zone D also played a vital role in ensuring that the injustice was rectified.
While Owodunni’s mobilisation for NYSC is still pending, the rectification of his JAMB admission status clears the primary hurdle, paving the way for the next stage of his national service.
The case highlights the growing scrutiny around university admissions and the importance of digital verification systems in safeguarding students’ academic futures.
