UNN Denies Admission Irregularities Allegations

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has refuted claims regarding irregularities in its admission process for the 2025/2026 academic year, labeling these allegations as “false and intended to maliciously tarnish the university’s integrity.”

On Thursday, the Public Relations Officer, Inya Egwu, stated that the university’s admission procedures are overseen, monitored, and authenticated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, ensuring that they are transparent and fair.

The statement mentions, “The University of Nigeria does not carry out its admission processes in isolation. Each step of the procedure is overseen, monitored, and validated by JAMB.”

The university emphasized that admissions adhere to a nationally established quota system, with different cut-off marks set for various categories.

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

“Admissions into federal universities, including the University of Nigeria, follow a nationally sanctioned quota system of 45% for Merit; 35% for Catchment Area (Locality); and 20% for Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS).

“According to the national admission policy, the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UNN established 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.

“Regarding consideration for Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS), the applicable cut-off marks are: 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 indicate that cut-off marks differ by admission category, in line with the national admission policy,” the statement continued.

Egwu noted that over 600 candidates achieved scores above 300 in Medicine and Surgery alone, contradicting the assertion that fewer than ten candidates scored above 338.

He stated, “The university’s Primary Admission List was compiled by the respective Deans of Faculty and later approved by the Committee of Deans, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, ensuring strict adherence to due process, transparency, and officially sanctioned guidelines.”

The university reassured the public that admissions are based on academic performance rather than influence or financial inducement, urging the community to ignore the unfounded claims and seek verified information exclusively through official sources.

“The University of Nigeria, under the guidance of Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, remains steadfast in its foundational values of integrity, fairness, and meritocracy in all academic and administrative operations. Admissions to the University are secured through academic excellence, not influence or financial inducements,” the statement concluded.

PUNCH Online reports that Nigerian universities frequently face public scrutiny regarding alleged admissions misconduct.

Complaints vary from questionable extra marks, quota manipulation, under-the-table payments, to the alteration of internal admission lists.