UNN debunks allegations of admission irregularities

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has denied allegations of irregularities in its 2025/2026 admission process, describing the claims as “false and maliciously intended to discredit the integrity of the university.”

In a statement on Thursday, the Public Relations Officer, Inya Egwu, said the University’s admission processes are monitored, supervised, and validated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, ensuring transparency and fairness.

The statement reads, “The University of Nigeria does not conduct its admission processes in isolation. Every stage of the process is monitored, supervised, and validated by JAMB.”

The university clarified that admissions are based on a nationally approved quota system, with specific cut-off marks for different categories.

For the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, the cut-off marks vary by admission category, ranging from 282.3 to 338.

“Admissions into Federal Universities, including the University of Nigeria, are based on a nationally approved quota system of 45% for Merit; 35% for Catchment Area (Locality) and 20% for Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS).

“In accordance with the national admission policy, the Faculty of Medical Sciences, UNN, approved category-specific cut-off marks for Medicine and Surgery as follows: Merit: 338.0 Catchment Areas: Enugu – 334.5; Anambra – 331.6; Imo – 333.1; Abia – 326.5; Ebonyi – 314.2; Delta – 315.8 and Akwa Ibom – 282.3.

With respect to consideration for Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS), the following cut-off points applied: Taraba – 312.1; Rivers – 295.4; Kogi – 294.6; Bayelsa – 317.3; Niger – 287.9; Cross River – 287.7; Benue – 282.4; Gombe – 282.4; Kaduna – 280.3 and Katsina – 283.3. These figures clearly demonstrate that cut-off marks vary by admission category, in accordance with the national admission policy”, the statement added.

According to Egwu, over 600 candidates scored above 300 in Medicine and Surgery alone, contradicting claims that fewer than ten candidates scored above 338.

He added, “The University’s Primary Admission List was prepared by the respective Deans of Faculty and subsequently approved by the Committee of Deans, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, ensuring strict compliance with due process, transparency, and officially approved guidelines.”

The university assured the public that admissions are earned through academic excellence, not influence or financial inducement, and advised members of the public to disregard the unfounded claims and obtain verified information only through official channels.

“The University of Nigeria, under the leadership of Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, remains firmly committed to its founding values of integrity, fairness, and meritocracy in all academic and administrative processes. Admissions into the University are earned through academic excellence, not influence or financial inducement”, the statement concluded. reports that universities in Nigeria have often been under public scrutiny for alleged admissions malpractice.

Complaints range from dubious extra marks, quota abuse, under-the-table payments, to manipulation of internal admission lists.

Such allegations are often denied by the universities.

culled from punch