Aina: JAMB optimises policies to build trust, reduce candidates’ trauma
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina, has said the board is refining its policies to build public trust, improve transparency and ease the difficulties candidates face during registration, examinations and admission.
Aina spoke on Wednesday while interacting with Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates at JAMB’s Abuja Zonal Office, as part of the 2026 Customer Week activities.
He said the adjustments were aimed at improving candidates’ experience without altering the board’s core operational framework.
“All the policy optimisation that we are doing is centred around two things: building trust and reducing trauma,” he said.
He said one major improvement is the provision of more detailed information on admission status. Candidates previously had to contend with vague notifications such as “not admitted” or “admission in progress,” which left many anxious and uncertain.
“Building trust is increasing transparency. That is why now you can see the progress with your admission status,” he said.
The registrar also disclosed that technology now allows candidates to update their telephone numbers and email addresses, even when they have lost access to the originals. Because these details serve as unique identifiers in the system, such changes were previously difficult.
On changes to names and other personal details, Aina said JAMB had strengthened collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which he commended for its prompt cooperation.
Candidates can now align their details with NIMC records to ensure consistency across both institutions.
He explained that although the board had relied on NIMC data during registration, it earlier barred alterations to prevent identity manipulation midway through the admission process.
Technological advances and closer collaboration, he said, now make it possible to accommodate legitimate changes with adequate safeguards.
He, however, warned against abuse of the system. “If you would like to change your entire name, we will keep track of you. And if you are trying to take advantage of the system, please get ready. You will be feeling the full weight of the law in due course,” he said.
Asked whether his tenure amounted to a rebranding of JAMB, Aina said he preferred to describe it as consolidation. He paid tribute to previous administrations, particularly that of his immediate predecessor, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
“I inherited a fantastic institution. Credit to my predecessors, particularly my immediate past predecessor, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who did a lot to sanitise the system even further and to adopt technology even further,” he said.
The registrar also spoke on the harmonised examination timetable, noting that while it could shorten JAMB’s preparation period, it would benefit the wider education sector by ensuring results are released in time for admission exercises.
He stressed that the board’s mandate goes beyond conducting examinations. “We are popular for the exams, but the exam is not our only mandate. Our core, the exam, is a means to an end. Our core is the admission exercise itself,” he said.
Aina said JAMB is determined to ensure that qualified candidates gain admission on merit.
“The people we serve don’t need to know anybody to get admission. It is our job to stand and moderate the interaction between these candidates and the institutions, and make sure they get their rightful places in the universities,” he said.
He further disclosed that the board had inaugurated a committee, headed by renowned psychometrician, Professor Nwogu, to examine the possibility of incorporating critical thinking and life skills into its examinations. He clarified that the proposal was still under consideration and no final decision had been taken.
Aina said the committee will determine whether such skills can be measured reliably and whether assessing them would improve outcomes. He cited the medical profession, noting that practitioners need not only technical knowledge but also sound judgement and an understanding of how their actions affect others.
Should the committee recommend the proposal and management approve it, a panel of experts would be set up to develop the implementation framework.
Aina said the aim was not to abandon existing academic requirements but to identify candidates whose abilities match the demands of their chosen programmes.
He reiterated that JAMB would continue to leverage technology, strengthen partnerships and refine its policies to make the admission process less stressful while protecting its credibility.