‘To Err Is Human’, NASFAT Urges Compassion In 2025 UTME Technical Glitch Saga

The Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) has thrown its weight behind the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, following the public backlash over technical glitches that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In a press statement titled ‘To Err Is Human, To Forgive Is Divine’ and signed by NASFAT’s Chief Missioner, World Headquarters, Lagos, Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike, the Islamic organisation expressed “deepest sympathies and unshaken support” for Prof. Oloyede, who they described as a “brother, colleague, and father” currently facing “immense grief and emotional distress” over the incident.

LEADERSHIP reports that the 2025 UTME was marred by a series of technical errors, prompting criticism from the public and stakeholders in the education sector. While JAMB has since acknowledged the mishap and taken responsibility, NASFAT called for empathy, not condemnation.

Imam Onike acknowledged the gravity of the situation but stressed the need to approach it from a place of humanity and fairness.

“The mistake in question was an error of judgment, a mistake of the head, not of the heart,” he stated, adding that the incident “does not reflect our highly respected scholar’s true character, values, or professional conduct.”

Referencing Prophet Muhammad’s teaching that “whatever befalls you was not going to miss you,” and describing perfection as an exclusive divine attribute, the society urged the public to recognise human fallibility and show understanding.

NASFAT also cited the registrar’s longstanding record of integrity and excellence in public service, noting that “those who know him can attest to his long-standing reputation for integrity, diligence, and sincere commitment to duty.”

The group further emphasised that the error was not motivated by malicious intent, whether by Prof. Oloyede or his subordinates.

“It is important to emphasise that there was no ill intent or deliberate negligence involved,” the statement read. “Human error, though unfortunate, is a shared part of our reality, and we should realise the fact that only God is infallible.”

While reaffirming the importance of accountability, NASFAT also advocated for justice “tempered with mercy,” urging the public not to forget the values of compassion and humility.

“Unarguably, though, accountability remains important, but so too are compassion, understanding, and the recognition that no one is beyond the possibility of faltering. Moreover, he and his team had accepted responsibility for the cause; it takes strong humility to own up in such situations,” the statement read.

The society also noted that it stood behind the registrar saying, “Unapologetically, we stand with him and his team during this difficult time, and we pray that Allah, the Most Merciful, brings healing to his heart, restores his dignity, and replaces his distress with ease and honour.”
The statement concluded with prayers for divine ease, healing, and restoration for the embattled registrar, quoting Surah Al-An’am, verse 59: “… And He knows what is on the land and in the sea; there is not a leaf which falls that He does not know about and there is not a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything green or dry which has not been recorded in a Clear Book.” Surah Al-An’am, verse 59 (6:59)

The Islamic society called on Nigerians to let this incident serve as a reminder of shared humanity and the need for mercy in public judgment.