OPM Pastor Calls for Abolition of UTME Exam in Nigeria

Apostle Chinyere, the founder of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), has publicly called for the abolition of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) during a sermon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He criticized the examination process as burdensome and outdated, urging the federal government to end its conduct.

Chinyere argued that the UTME adds unnecessary stress to students, as tertiary institutions already conduct separate screening exercises for candidates. He raised concerns about the early examination schedule, particularly the 6:30 AM sitting, which forces candidates to travel long distances and increases financial burdens on parents.

He also highlighted security risks, referencing recent abductions of UTME candidates in Benue State. Chinyere compared Nigeria's admission system unfavorably to those in several countries that have adopted more flexible and student-friendly processes, rather than relying on a single high-stakes examination.