The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has concluded the sale of 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application documents, recording over 1.7 million candidates at the close of the site by12 midnighton Friday May 5, 2017.

The Board urges Nigerians to have trust in its processes as they are meant to enhance productivity, eliminate examination malpractice and promote transparency to an unprecedented level.

“We registered a number that has never been done in the entire 39 years of the existence of JAMB within a time frame Nigerians were scepticalabout. The highest we have ever had was 1.5 million, this is record breaking. We will look at the system so far and make adjustments where necessary to ensure a full proof process of registration and examination. We are always sure of our systems and will continue to expand our frontiers of thinking to transform the Board to an agency that Nigerians will be proud of,” JAMB Head of Media & Publicity, Dr. Fabian Benjamin said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

JAMB said it will continue to be very open in all its activities and ensure inclusiveness even in the areas of its finances.

Benjamin said: “The disclosure of the actual number of candidates registered is a clear invitation for the public to know what the Board has realised from the sale for this year and we are not perturbed because we have nothing to hide in our dealings. We are determined to make Nigerians proud of us.

“Examination is all about transparency and an agency that conducts such a competitive examination must be above board in all its life cycle. As we conduct the 2017 examination beginning fromSaturday May 13, we call on all Nigerians to give us the needed support. We will do our very best and where they notice challenges, we will work without hesitation to ensure that it is corrected immediately for candidates to have a smooth examination.

“Nigerians should note that there could be one or two challenges in some centres; but the most important thing is our ability to urgently address such when they rear their face.

JAMB appealed to Nigerians to be patriotic and to avoid condemning the activities of government agencies. It also called for support in building the dream education system that Nigerians hope for.

“We have resolved to bell the cat in order for other public examination agencies to thrive.

“We will also not be distracted by some highly placed Nigerians who, for selfish personal interest of what they were making but which they are no longer making through corrupt practices and others for sheer envy and personal grudges against actors in JAMB, resolved to do everything to paint all our processes even at infancy level in bad light.

“Thank God, the number of registration and short period as against the six months in the past has vindicated us.”