New JAMB Registrar Aina Assumes Office, Vows to Protect Examination Integrity 

By Emmanuel Kwada

The newly appointed Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, has pledged to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process, declaring that his administration will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to examination malpractice, admission fraud and other forms of misconduct.

Prof. Aina made the commitment on Friday during a formal handover ceremony at the Board’s National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, where he officially took over from the outgoing Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.

Addressing staff, stakeholders and guests at the event, the professor of Computer Engineering described integrity as the bedrock of every credible institution, stressing that technological innovation and operational efficiency can only be meaningful when built on trust, transparency and accountability.

“Trust is not built by speeches; it is built by decisions, by the choices we make when no one is watching, by the standards we refuse to compromise and by the value that every Nigerian can place in the fairness of this institution,” Aina said.

He added, “The first commitment of my stewardship is simple: we shall protect the integrity of JAMB with everything the law permits. Integrity is not merely one of our values; it is the foundation upon which every other achievement rests.”

The new registrar signalled a firm crackdown on examination malpractice and admission-related crimes, warning that individuals and syndicates involved in cheating, impersonation, certificate forgery, cybercrime and other fraudulent practices would face intensified scrutiny and prosecution.

He said JAMB would strengthen its use of technology, intelligence gathering and institutional oversight to detect and dismantle examination fraud while collaborating closely with security agencies and relevant stakeholders.

According to Aina, preserving the credibility of public examinations is essential to ensuring that hardworking and deserving candidates are not denied opportunities by dishonest practices.

“Every admission secured through fraudulent means deprives a qualified candidate of a legitimate opportunity,” he said, pledging that fairness and merit would remain the guiding principles of the Board under his leadership.

Beyond enforcing examination integrity, Aina unveiled plans to enhance service delivery by making JAMB’s processes more transparent, efficient and user-friendly.

He promised to simplify examination registration procedures, improve communication with candidates and institutions, and leverage technology to reduce delays and the anxiety often associated with admissions and other Board services.

His vision, he said, is to build a more responsive institution where candidates, parents and tertiary institutions can access timely information and receive professional support.

According to him, interactions with JAMB should inspire confidence rather than frustration.

The registrar expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading one of Nigeria’s most strategic education agencies.

He also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, pledging to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Education to advance reforms that will strengthen the country’s education system.

Aina paid tribute to former JAMB registrars, including Michael Saidu Angulu, Mohammed Abubakar, Bello Salim, Dibu Ojerinde, and his immediate predecessor, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, whose contributions, he said, transformed the Board into one of Nigeria’s most respected public institutions.

He reserved special praise for Oloyede, commending his reforms, leadership and efforts to restore public confidence in the examination body.

In an emotional reflection, Aina described his appointment as a “full-circle moment,” recalling that he once served at JAMB as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) nearly two decades ago.

Returning to lead the institution, he said, was both humbling and inspiring.

He pledged to build on the achievements of previous administrations while positioning JAMB to meet the evolving challenges of a rapidly changing educational landscape.

The smooth transition between the outgoing and incoming registrars, he noted, reflects the Board’s culture of institutional continuity and professionalism.