Newly appointed Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof. Segun Aina, on Friday officially assumed office, pledging to consolidate on the board’s gains in safeguarding the credibility of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
Aina, who spoke during the Handover Ceremony at the board’s headquarters in Abuja, assured stakeholders that his administration would build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, while sustaining public confidence in JAMB’s examination and admission systems.
He also expressed the determination to deepen technological innovation and strengthening transparency in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.
Aina pledged to consolidate on the board’s achievements, assuring Nigerians that the credibility of the UTME and the transparency of the admission process would remain paramount under his leadership.
He said his administration would preserve JAMB’s culture of innovation and accountability while working with stakeholders to further improve service delivery and uphold global best practices in tertiary admissions.
While delivering his farewell address, Oloyede said the remarkable achievements recorded during his 10-year tenure were the result of collective commitment rather than individual effort.
“Whatever accomplishments have been recorded during this period are not mine alone. They are manifestations of His infinite favour and blessings. What we have done in the past 10 years is the result of many people working together for a common purpose,” he said.
Oloyede reflected on the philosophy that guided his administration, recalling that his inaugural address in 2016 was titled “Let’s Do It Together,” saying the theme became the foundation of the board’s transformation.
“Doing it together means that many colours make a rainbow and many flowers make a garden. I had no illusion from the outset that I would depend on God’s guidance and people’s support, and this informed why my inaugural address was titled ‘Let’s Do It Together’,” he stated.
The outgoing registrar expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, the current Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, members of the governing board, state governors, development partners, security agencies, the media and JAMB staff for supporting the board’s reforms.
Oloyede explained that his administration was anchored on five cardinal principles—staff welfare, discipline, technology, transparency and networking—which he said repositioned JAMB into one of Nigeria’s most credible public institutions.
“The cardinal points are welfare, discipline, technology, transparency and networking. Though perfection belongs to Almighty Allah, I am confident to say we tried our best,” he said.
He disclosed that JAMB committed more than N8 billion to staff welfare, strengthened retirement savings, introduced a 13th-month salary, increased examination duty incentives and provided medical support for workers.
According to him, the board also invested heavily in technology by expanding computer-based testing, introducing the Central Admissions Processing System, CAPS, deploying biometric verification, CCTV monitoring, digital payment systems and other innovations that strengthened the integrity of the UTME and admissions process.
“At the heart of our operational blueprint is technology. We owe many of our far-reaching reforms to innovative technologies… creating CAPS, advancing biometric and identity verification, CCTV monitoring, digital payment and institutional digital transformation,” he said.
On transparency, Oloyede said JAMB’s financial and operational activities were deliberately made public to strengthen accountability and public trust.
“My stewardship is anchored on transparency because I believe that only darkness is afraid of light. Our operational and financial transactions are in the open domain… The syndrome of under-the-table admission has been confined to antiquity,” he declared.
He commended members of staff for their dedication, insisting that JAMB’s successes were made possible by their professionalism and resilience.
“The successes recorded over the past decade are products of our collective vision, shared sacrifice and ongoing commitment to excellence. I am privileged to have worked with such an exceptional team,” he added.
