The appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has placed attention on the operational and technological challenges confronting Nigeria’s tertiary admission examination system.
President Bola Tinubu approved Aina’s appointment last Thursday, with the computer engineering scholar expected to assume office on August 1, 2026, following the completion of Professor Ishaq Oloyede’s second tenure.
Professor Oloyede, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, was first appointed in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari before receiving a second term in 2021.
The special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the incoming registrar as “a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, and public-sector institutional reform.”
At 39, Aina is expected to become the youngest registrar in the history of the examination body.
The incoming registrar, who studied computer systems engineering at the University of Kent and later obtained postgraduate qualifications from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, previously worked with JAMB during his National Youth Service Corps programme (NYSC).
Onanuga said, “Professor Aina operates at the intersection of technology, policy, and institutional transformation, advising federal and state governments on system design, digital transition, and operational reform.”
Despite the reforms introduced under Oloyede’s administration, the board continues to face recurring technological and operational setbacks that many observers believe will define Aina’s early months in office.
One of the most persistent concerns remains technical glitches affecting the computer-based testing system during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
JAMB witnessed a steady increase in UTME registration figures from 1,722,236 candidates across 642 CBT centres in 2017 to about 2.2 million candidates in 966 centres by 2026.
The expansion, however, has also intensified pressure on the board’s digital infrastructure.
Over the years, candidates have reported system failures ranging from server disconnections and frozen screens to difficulties uploading examination responses.
One of the most significant disruptions occurred during the 2025 UTME when server patch errors reportedly affected about 380,000 candidates in 157 centres, particularly in Lagos and parts of the South-East.
The incident forced the board to organise a rescheduled examination for affected candidates.
Professor Oloyede publicly apologised during the crisis and disclosed that he considered resigning over the situation.
Technical failures resurfaced again during the 2026 mock UTME held on March 27, leaving many candidates stranded at examination centres for several hours.
Some candidates reportedly arrived as early as 6am but were unable to begin their examinations until afternoon due to system-related disruptions.
Following the incident, JAMB delisted 23 CBT centres across 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory over what it described as “technical inaccuracies.”
The public communication adviser of JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, later assured candidates that affected examinations would be rescheduled.
“We are assuring all Nigerians that every candidate who has registered for this exam will be given the opportunity to sit the exam,” Benjamin said.
“If your centre fails today, you will be rescheduled again to take the exam. For any reason, even when you are rescheduled and you are unable to sit the examination, you will be rescheduled again,” he added.
Power outages at CBT centres have also remained a recurring challenge linked to the examination process.
In several centres nationwide, candidates have experienced interruptions caused by faulty generators and unstable electricity supply.
During the last UTME, reports emerged from a CBT centre in Mowe, Ogun State, where about 250 candidates were allegedly unable to complete their examinations because of power failure.
Biometric verification difficulties have equally continued to affect candidates during registration and examination processes.
Cases involving fingerprint mismatch and facial recognition errors have repeatedly surfaced across centres nationwide.
Reports indicated that about 80,000 candidates experienced verification-related problems during the 2023 UTME, while similar incidents resurfaced during the 2025 exercise.
Another issue expected to confront the incoming registrar is the increasing sophistication of examination malpractice.
Although JAMB introduced tighter monitoring systems, biometric verification and centre blacklisting measures, cases involving impersonation and collusion have persisted.
The challenge has recently evolved into technology-driven fraud involving artificial intelligence and digital manipulation.
Professor Oloyede disclosed on February 28 that the board uncovered a syndicate allegedly using AI tools to manipulate the 2026 UTME registration and examination process.
He said several suspects linked to the operation had been taken into custody.
According to him, many of the affected candidates were underage applicants allegedly pressured by parents.
On April 18, JAMB announced the arrest of two candidates and one parent over alleged result falsification using “AI and other electronic means.”
Low performance among candidates also remains a major concern within the examination system.
Data published by JAMB showed that more than 75 per cent of candidates scored below 200 in the 2025 UTME.
Out of 1,955,059 candidates who sat for the examination, only 420,415 scored above the 200 mark.
The pattern has sustained debates around secondary school preparedness, examination conditions and the broader quality of education.
Heavy traffic on JAMB’s online platforms has further exposed concerns about server overload and digital capacity.
The steady increase in candidate applications over the past decade has placed additional strain on the board’s infrastructure, particularly during registration periods.
Although the federal government recently exempted applicants seeking admission into National Diploma and Nigeria Certificate in Education agricultural programmes from UTME requirements, attention remains focused on whether the move will significantly reduce future pressure on the examination system.
