By Ghazali Ibrahim
A growing wave of public concern is building around the case of Basola Jamiu Owodunni, a graduate of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), whose academic future now hangs in the balance after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) declared his admission “fake.”
Basola, who gained admission to study Civil Engineering at FUTA in 2017, completed his degree in 2024 with an impressive Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.41 after 6.5 years of rigorous study.
He had concluded his final examinations, successfully defended his project, and completed all required school clearance processes.
However, what should have been a celebratory moment has turned into a nightmare.
According to reports circulating on social media and confirmed by student advocacy groups, JAMB has now invalidated his admission, blocked his portal, and refused to mobilize him for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a mandatory post-university program for Nigerian graduates.
Shockingly, Basola has also been reportedly handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police over what JAMB has labeled as an irregular or unauthorized admission.
This is despite the fact that his school, FUTA confirmed his name appeared on JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).The university’s Vice Chancellor personally contacted JAMB to verify and defend his admission. The institution has written multiple letters on his behalf.
Basola, who tragically lost both parents and has no immediate family support, has sought help from multiple quarters, including the JAMB office, the Public Complaints Commission, the Brekete Family radio show, and public advocacy platforms, all to no avail.
“This young man did everything right,” said one campaigner involved in the #JusticeForBasola movement.
“He passed his exams, fulfilled all requirements, and got his degree. Now JAMB is pulling the ladder from under his feet, and no one is being held accountable.”
A social media campaign under the hashtags #JusticeForBasola, #LetHimServe, and #SupportBasola is gaining momentum as Nigerians call on relevant authorities to review the case and reinstate his right to NYSC mobilization.
Many have described Basola’s situation as an example of systemic failure where a student who fulfilled all academic and institutional conditions is being punished for a bureaucratic error beyond his control.
As of now, neither JAMB nor NYSC has issued an official response to the growing calls for intervention. Basola remains in limbo, with his future and professional journey paused indefinitely.
