The newly appointed Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina, has pledged to safeguard the integrity of the examination body, describing it as the foundation of every credible institution.
Aina made the commitment on Friday during his official handover ceremony at JAMB’s National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja.
He stressed that public trust, transparency and accountability must remain at the heart of the Board’s operations, noting that technological innovation and operational efficiency are meaningless without integrity.
“Ladies and gentlemen, 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.
“That is why 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. Without integrity, technology becomes a tool for manipulation; without integrity, efficiency loses its meaning; without integrity, public confidence disappears.”
The new registrar declared that his administration would take a tough stance against examination malpractice and admission fraud, warning that anyone attempting to compromise the credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system would face the full weight of the law.
He said JAMB would intensify efforts to identify and prosecute examination malpractice syndicates, impersonators, certificate forgers, cybercriminals and corrupt officials through improved technology, intelligence gathering and stronger internal oversight.
According to Aina, protecting the credibility of public examinations is not only about enforcing regulations but also about ensuring that hardworking and qualified candidates are given a fair opportunity.
He added that the Board would strengthen collaboration with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders while adopting global best practices to tackle emerging forms of examination fraud and secure its systems against abuse.
Aina maintained that every admission secured through dishonest means denies a deserving candidate a legitimate opportunity, stressing that fairness and merit would remain central to JAMB’s operations.
Beyond addressing malpractice, he said the Board would focus on improving service delivery by simplifying its processes, strengthening communication with stakeholders and deploying technology to make registration, admissions and other services more efficient.
He explained that his vision is to build a transparent, accessible and people-centred institution where candidates, parents and educational institutions receive prompt information and quality support.
According to him, Nigerians should have confidence, rather than frustration, whenever they interact with JAMB.
Aina described the Board as a vital institution that provides millions of young Nigerians with access to higher education and better opportunities.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing him as registrar and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him through dedicated service and commitment to the public good.
He also thanked the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, promising to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Education to drive reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education sector.
The new registrar acknowledged the contributions of former JAMB registrars, including pioneer Registrar Michael Saidu Angulu, Mohammed Abubakar, Bello Salim, Dibu Ojerinde and his immediate predecessor, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for their roles in building the institution.
He paid special tribute to Oloyede, praising his reforms and leadership, which he said significantly improved public confidence in JAMB.
Aina noted that the seamless transition demonstrated the Board’s culture of professionalism and institutional continuity, adding that true leadership is reflected not only in achievements but also in preparing successors for sustained progress.
Reflecting on his appointment, Aina described it as a remarkable homecoming, recalling that he served at JAMB as a National Youth Service Corps member nearly 20 years ago. He said returning to lead the organisation was both an honour and a source of inspiration, pledging to consolidate its achievements while preparing it to meet the demands of a rapidly changing education sector.
