What JAMB is doing to build trust, reduce UTME candidates’ trauma – Aina

The Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina, has said the board is optimising its policies to build public trust, enhance transparency and reduce the difficulties candidates encounter during registration, examinations and the admission process.

Aina stated this on Wednesday during an interaction with Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates as part of activities marking the 2026 Customer Week at JAMB’s Abuja Zonal Office.

He said the policy adjustments were designed to improve candidates’ experiences without necessarily introducing fundamental changes to the board’s existing operational framework.

“All the policy optimisation that we are doing is centred around two things: building trust and reducing trauma,” Aina said.

According to him, the board is committed to making its processes more transparent, accessible and responsive to the needs of candidates and other stakeholders in the admission system.

He explained that one of the areas where the board had improved its services was the provision of more detailed information on candidates’ admission status.

Aina noted that candidates previously had to contend with vague notifications such as “not admitted” or “admission in progress”, leaving many of them uncertain about the progress of their applications.

He said the improved system now provides candidates with more information about their admission status, helping to reduce anxiety and uncertainty while strengthening confidence in the process.

“Building trust is increasing transparency. That is why now you can see the progress with your admission status. Instead of just seeing ‘not admitted’ or ‘admission in progress’ and just waiting and being nervous and being traumatised, we now have a situation where you can see the details,” he said.

The JAMB registrar described the improvements as small but significant adjustments intended to make the board’s services more efficient and user-friendly.

He also disclosed that technological innovations had enabled JAMB to introduce greater flexibility in updating candidates’ personal information, particularly their telephone numbers and email addresses.

According to him, candidates previously faced difficulties changing these details when they lost access to their registered telephone numbers or email accounts because the information served as unique identifiers within the board’s system.

He said the board had now leveraged technology to facilitate such changes while maintaining the security and integrity of its operations.

Aina explained that the objective was to prevent candidates from experiencing unnecessary hardship when they needed to recover access to their accounts or update their information.

On changes to candidates’ names and other personal details, he said JAMB had strengthened its collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which is responsible for identity management in the country.

He commended NIMC for its prompt response and cooperation in resolving issues relating to the alignment of candidates’ personal information across the two institutions.

According to him, candidates can now align their details with NIMC records and ensure consistency with the information maintained by JAMB.

Aina explained that the board had previously relied on NIMC data during registration but did not allow candidates to alter their details through the process because of concerns about identity manipulation.

He said the decision was necessary to prevent individuals from changing their identities midway through the admission process.

However, he noted that technological advancements and improved collaboration with NIMC had made it possible to accommodate legitimate changes while maintaining adequate safeguards.

The registrar warned candidates against attempting to exploit the system to manipulate their identities, stressing that anyone found engaging in fraudulent practices would face the full consequences of the law.

“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 warned.

On whether the changes under his leadership amounted to a rebranding of JAMB, Aina said he preferred to describe the process as consolidation rather than a complete departure from the board’s established practices.

He acknowledged the contributions of previous administrations, particularly that of his immediate predecessor, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to strengthening the institution and expanding the adoption of technology in its operations.

“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.

Aina explained that his administration was building on the reforms already introduced by previous leaderships to improve service delivery and sustain public confidence in the examination and admission system.

He also highlighted the significance of the harmonised examination timetable, noting that although it could leave JAMB with a shorter preparation period, it would benefit the wider education sector by ensuring that results were released within the period required for admission exercises.

According to him, JAMB’s responsibility extends beyond conducting the UTME, as the examination is essentially a means of determining candidates’ eligibility for admission into tertiary institutions.

He said the board’s central responsibility was to coordinate the admission process in a manner that guarantees fairness, transparency and credibility.

“Don’t forget, 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 admissions exercise itself,” he said.

Aina stressed that the board was determined to ensure that qualified candidates secured admission on merit without having to rely on personal connections or knowing influential individuals.

“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.

The registrar maintained that a credible admission system must provide equal opportunities for candidates and ensure that institutions complied with the applicable admission requirements.

He further disclosed that JAMB had inaugurated a committee to examine the possibility of incorporating critical thinking and life skills into its examinations.

He clarified, however, that the proposal was still under consideration and that no final decision had been taken on its adoption.

According to him, the committee, headed by Professor Nwogu, a renowned psychometrician, would investigate whether assessing candidates beyond conventional academic subjects could provide a more comprehensive understanding of their abilities and suitability for different courses.

Aina explained that candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions were already expected to satisfy the relevant O’level requirements before being assessed through the UTME.

He said JAMB was examining whether the existing assessment framework could be strengthened by introducing additional measures that would help determine candidates’ reasoning abilities, decision-making skills and capacity to apply knowledge to practical situations.

The registrar noted that academic qualifications remained important, but argued that institutions and employers increasingly needed individuals who could think critically, solve problems and make responsible decisions.

He cited the medical profession as an example, explaining that healthcare practitioners required not only technical knowledge but also the ability to assess situations, make sound decisions and understand how their actions affected other people.

He said the proposed assessment would require careful investigation to determine whether critical thinking and life skills could contribute meaningfully to the selection and subsequent performance of candidates.

Aina added that the committee would need to examine relevant evidence and determine how such skills could be measured reliably, as well as whether their assessment would improve outcomes within the education system.

He explained that, should the committee recommend the proposal and JAMB’s management approve its adoption, the board would establish a panel of experts to work out the implementation framework.

The registrar emphasised that the objective was not to abandon the existing academic requirements but to explore additional ways of identifying candidates whose abilities and competencies matched the demands of their chosen programmes.

He said the board would rely on the committee’s findings before determining the next steps, underscoring the need for evidence-based decisions in introducing any new assessment method.

The interaction formed part of JAMB’s 2026 Customer Week activities, which provided an opportunity for the board to engage directly with candidates, listen to their concerns and explain measures being taken to improve its services.

Aina reiterated that the board would continue to leverage technology, strengthen institutional partnerships and refine its operational policies to make the admission process less stressful for candidates while protecting the credibility of the system.

He said the ultimate goal was to build a transparent and dependable admission framework in which candidates could access information, resolve legitimate problems and compete fairly for available places in tertiary institutions.