The new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, has announced a tougher approach to JAMB exam malpractice, warning fraudsters and other dishonest operators that the board will not tolerate attempts to undermine its processes. Aina made the declaration on Friday during the formal handover ceremony at JAMB’s national headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, following the completion of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede’s tenure.
The new registrar said his administration would deploy technology, administrative controls and investigative measures to detect and prosecute examination malpractice. He also promised to deepen cooperation with security and law enforcement agencies while adopting stronger technologies and international best practices.
According to Aina, admission obtained through malpractice does more than violate examination rules because it denies deserving candidates opportunities. “The future belongs to those who prepare, not those who cheat,” he said, warning individuals involved in impersonation, credential forgery, CBT centre manipulation, bribery, extortion, cybercrime and identity theft.
Beyond tackling JAMB exam malpractice, Aina said his administration would focus on improving the experience of candidates and their parents.
He described JAMB as an institution that connects the aspirations of young Nigerians with opportunities for tertiary education. The registrar said the board would simplify its processes, improve communication and strengthen customer support to reduce the anxiety and uncertainty associated with its services.
He said candidates who interact with JAMB through its offices, help desks or online platforms should encounter professionalism, courtesy and clear information. “We must never become the source of unnecessary trauma for Nigerians,” Aina said.
He further pledged to strengthen institutional systems and reduce dependence on individual personalities, arguing that sustainable public institutions require clear values, accountability and resilient operational structures.
Aina described his appointment as a homecoming, recalling that he served at JAMB as a National Youth Service Corps member almost two decades ago.
He said the experience exposed him to the role played by the board in shaping the educational aspirations of millions of Nigerians. The registrar also praised former JAMB registrars for building the institution over the years, particularly his immediate predecessor, Oloyede, whom he credited with strengthening the board’s credibility and facilitating a smooth leadership transition.
Aina thanked President Bola Tinubu for entrusting him with the leadership of the examination body and pledged to work closely with Education Minister Tunji Alausa on reforms in the sector. He also called for stronger collaboration with universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, regulatory agencies, development partners and the private sector.
Addressing Nigerian youths, the new registrar urged them to reject shortcuts and remain committed to preparation and integrity. He said Nigeria needed the intelligence of its young people but required their integrity even more.
Aina said his administration would assess its decisions against one central question: whether each action would make it easier or harder for an honest Nigerian child to achieve their educational ambitions. He pledged that where a decision could help honest candidates, JAMB would pursue it with excellence.
But where it could make their path harder, he said, the institution should reject it. The new administration therefore begins with a dual focus: strengthening the fight against JAMB exam malpractice while building a more transparent, technology-driven and candidate-focused examination system.
