The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, says it has completed the automation of its test item development process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, and other board examinations.
The innovation, which marks a major shift from the manual method previously used is known as the Remote Authoring and Moderation System, RAMS.
According to the Monday bulletin of the exam body, the automation fully digitises the creation and moderation of examination items, ending the traditional paper-based approach.
It disclosed that training for item writers on the automated platform concluded on February 25, 2026, at University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Oyo State, adding that the programme brought together subject experts to finalise the digitisation process ahead of the forthcoming UTME.
A test run conducted immediately after the training confirmed the system’s efficiency and readiness for full deployment.
The initiative is considered a major technological breakthrough for a Computer-Based Test, CBT, examination that requires the development and management of millions of test items annually.
Speaking at the event, the Registrar of JAMB, Is-haq Oloyede, described the decade-long journey to full digital automation as rigorous but ultimately rewarding.
He said the RAMS platform represents the Board’s transition from a manual, paper-driven process to a fully digital system.
According to him, the innovation eliminates challenges associated with physical documentation, logistical coordination, identification of resource persons, and bureaucratic bottlenecks often encountered when convening physical meetings.
The registrar noted that the new system would make the item development process faster, more cost-effective, and more efficient.
He added that automation strengthens the integrity, security, and reliability of examination items while sparing item writers the stress of travelling.
“This is a win-win situation for both the Board and item writers,” Oloyede said.
Providing an update on the 2026 UTME registration exercise, he disclosed that more than two million candidates had registered as of the time of the briefing.
He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to conducting a credible examination and reiterated its zero tolerance for malpractice and non-compliance with operational standards.
Responding to appeals from some quarters for previously delisted centres to be reinstated, the registrar maintained that centres sanctioned for infractions would not be reconsidered.
Oloyede also called on political leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the Board’s efforts by investing in the establishment of world-class CBT centres to boost digital literacy across the country.
He commended the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ahmed Raji, among others, for their support and recognition of the importance of investing in education.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Forum of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities and Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Akure, Adenike Oladiji, described RAMS as a robust quality assurance mechanism.
She explained that the system enables universities—major beneficiaries of successful UTME candidates—to participate more actively in the processes that validate and certify prospective undergraduates.
According to her, reliable item generation strengthens the credibility of the admission process.
Similarly, the Vice-Chancellors of Fountain University, Osun State, Olayinka Ramota Karim, and African School of Economics, Abuja, Mahfouz Adedimeji, described the initiative as innovative and forward-looking.
They noted that the technology allows item writers to work more conveniently and efficiently, significantly reducing the stress associated with developing examination questions.
The speakers unanimously commended JAMB for its foresight and commitment to leveraging technology to ensure that examination questions can be securely generated from any location while maintaining the highest standards of reliability and validity.
