Nigerians have described as abysmal the alleged injustice and discrimination admission-seeking students face in public universities.
In a series of comments on X, commentators alleged that getting admission into public universities goes beyond one’s academic excellence.
They mentioned that despite scoring high in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, candidates with lower scores end up being admitted into these public universities.
With many attributing such alleged development to the quota system in the educational sector of Nigeria, Nigerians described as ”injustice” the quota system practice where certain states are classified as educationally disadvantaged, thereby giving ”unnecessary” advantage during admission into universities to candidates from such states.
Speaking on the discrimination, Alex Onyia mentioned that ”Someone from Enugu State who scored 323 in JAMB was denied admission into medicine in UNN, while someone who scored 250 from the so-called less privileged state gained admission into UNN.”
”This is no more acceptable and is affecting the self-confidence of students. This has to stop,” he added.
For Mentus Ugwu, he said, ”Scoring 73 higher and not getting admitted! 10 years later, the less privileged man will boss the privileged man in civil service, and you still wonder why Nigeria is where it is?”
Speaking from personal experience, an X user simply identified as Iphy said, ”I scored 265 and couldn’t study law at UNIZIK. When the supplementary list came out, I saw someone from Kebbi got in with 214. It was posted on the wall. That was when I heard about educational disadvantage for the first time. It was so painful. I am from Anambra; I didn’t get in.”
For an X user called Mind Affairs, it said, ”The quota system and federal character principle were and are still the major causes of decline in every facet of life in Nigeria.”
Sharing similar sentiments, Young Preacher noted that, ”Any student with a higher score that is denied admission while another with a lower score (from the northern side) should be made public. This is injustice just for your gift.”
With many others lamenting over the discrimination of prospective admission seekers in public universities in the country, Arinze alleged that he was denied admission because of his state of origin.
”Same happened to me in 2006. Same UNN. Physics Economics. They said because I am from Enugu. They gave it to people from “educationally disadvantaged states” that scored far lower,” Arinze noted.
This publication highlights below more reactions of Nigerians to the discrimination faced by admission seekers in public universities.
Opera Thank God, ”Very annoying; we experienced this back then. I am surprised it’s still happening. Meanwhile, you stand no chance as an Enugu indigene to gain admission in some states even if you have the highest score, except you have strong connections.”
Kachi, ”This same thing happened to me in 2001.I scored 269; the cutoff was 270. I was refused admission, and while I was standing helpless in front of the admissions office, I saw people rejoicing, and I asked what score it was, and they said 201, and 192 got admission to the same medicine I wanted to study.”
Honeyfactory, ”This has kept many of our brilliant youths at home frustrated… some are forced to go into nursing, while others had to manage vet med or go home. I personally experienced this for 3 years; I never failed jamb, yet no admission because people from the north with lower scores took spots.”
On bed, ”The irony of this story is that no one who scores 323 from the so-called less privileged state will be denied admission in his state. Now, excellence has to be sacrificed for stupid inclusion. This quota system that benefits ineptitude will destroy this country.”
Nosa Ibinadolor, ”Federal Character is one of the drivers of underdevelopment in Nigeria. Until we are ready to treat this pathological condition, we will continue to sacrifice our best for the most convenient. Development requires the best of our human capital, not the scholarly ill or unskilled.”
D.S. Maisaje, ”A very large part of the problems in Nigerian society today has its roots in the school system, but Nigerians are not ready for that conversation.”
Olushola, ”This needs to be addressed; we cannot continue to bypass our best candidates for dull ones just because of geographic conditions or tribes. It’s annoying that some don’t see anything wrong with this.”
Mr. Candy, ”This also happens in federal government colleges common entrance. The last time I checked, Anambra was the highest, followed by Enugu. One from the aforementioned states can score 300+, yet be denied admission, while one from ELDS with 250 will be admitted.
Abraham Chigoziri, ”This is injustice! The quota system should be based on merit. The regional quota system should be scrapped! The Ministry of Education should encourage the students to sit up.”
Tunji, ”The inequality and discrimination in this age and time are unjustified. Federal schools must be on merit only. State universities can accommodate the so-called laggards.”
Chukwukwadoro, ”Unizik did the same thing to me. I scored 254 in my jamb, and they denied my admission to study medicine, but someone from the north who scored 140 was given admission. This happened in 2004. I later studied biotech instead.”
Innocent, ”I’m from Enugu too. In 2018, I got 276 in JAMB, 305 in post UTME, and ABU Zaria didn’t give me admission for medicine and surgery (nor any closer alternative). My efforts and one year, totally wasted. This is totally unfair and unjust to mankind.”
Chinedu, ”I scored 278 in Jamb and 72% in post-UTME (2017). Nnamdi Azikiwe University said I wasn’t fit for admission.”
