JAMB warns parents against registering minors for UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cautioned parents against registering minors for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, gave the warning while reacting to a suit filed by one Mrs Ifeanyi Eke, against the board, over alleged inappropriate text messages sent to her 15-year-old daughter during the course of her registration.

 It would be recalled that Mrs Eke has filed a N100m suit against JAMB and three others before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged unsolicited and inappropriate text messages sent to her 15-year-old daughter.

  But reacting to the incident in an interview with journalists, Oloyede said the board was ready to meet with the woman, maintaining that the sender of the message was not its employee.

 The registrar said since the incident happened, JAMB reported to the security agencies to take appropriate action but the woman did not care, suing for N100 million at the expense of the child.

 He said, “How is your girl of 15 years ready for university now if she is law-abiding as she claimed? The law today is that you must spend six years before primary school, six years in primary school, and six years in secondary school. By that time, you are 18.

  “You must cut corners to make a 15-year-old child ready for university education. We will meet her in court.” 

 The board, however, urged parents to allow their children to mature before registering for UTME.