LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Education stakeholders have called on the newly appointed Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, to improve the processes of taking the compulsory exams in the country.
They appealed to him to make better, access to computer-based examinations, promote fairness, fix technical challenges, and ensure a more inclusive admission process for candidates across Nigeria.
Stakeholders made the appeal during separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja following Aina’s appointment to lead the country’s examination body.
The National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, Mr Bonyface Odeh, described the appointment of the 39-year-old professor as a good decision.
He stressed that leadership positions should be based on competence rather than age.
“A professor in Nigeria is a professor all over the world. If he is qualified to become a professor, then he is qualified to hold any public office entrusted to him,” he said.
Odeh, however, urged the new registrar to address major challenges linked to the Computer-Based Test (CBT) system.
According to him, many secondary schools still lack functional computer facilities, leaving students unprepared for digital examinations.
“We do not have computers in many secondary schools in Nigeria. A child who has never seen a computer before is expected to sit for a university admission examination using a computer. That is a serious challenge,” Odeh noted.
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He explained that although the CBT policy remains a positive development, schools must first be equipped with adequate computers so students can gain basic digital knowledge before sitting for exams.
The PTA National President called for easier procedures that would allow candidates to correct mistakes made during registration, especially errors involving names or age.
“Nobody is above mistakes. If a child makes an error in spelling or arrangement of names, there should be a provision for correction,” he added.
Furthermore, Odeh urged the Federal Government to uphold fairness and the federal character principle when making appointments into major national institutions.
He also expressed hope that Aina would build on the achievements of the previous administration while fixing existing gaps in the examination process.
Also, Education analyst Mr Nathaniel Adamu welcomed the appointment, describing Aina as capable of driving innovation within JAMB through technology-based reforms.
According to Adamu, the new registrar’s academic background and technology expertise could improve service delivery while reducing technical problems often experienced during examinations.
“I believe he is well-positioned because I read a little about his biography when the appointment was announced. The young man is up and doing and, with the enthusiasm he has, he will make a positive impact,” Adamu stated.
Adamu added that Aina’s age could become an advantage because he may better understand the challenges young candidates face in today’s digital environment.
“We now have a young person who will think the way young people are thinking and bring innovations that will make JAMB better than it has been,” he added.
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He further expressed confidence that the incoming registrar would introduce technology-driven solutions capable of reducing technical glitches while improving the credibility and efficiency of examinations.
Meanwhile, the Principal of Grace of God Schools, Mr Bassey Bassey, described the appointment of younger professionals into education leadership positions as a positive step for reform in the sector.
Bassey stated that competence, qualifications, and research ability should matter more than age when selecting leaders.
He noted that younger administrators often possess the energy needed to modernize educational management.
Bassey advised the new registrar to solve long-standing issues affecting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), including limited CBT centres, long travel distances faced by candidates, and technical failures during examinations.
He maintained that stronger cooperation between government agencies and private operators could improve facilities, speed up the release of results, and create opportunities for students through biannual UTME examinations.
The school principal also praised President Bola Tinubu for appointing younger individuals into leadership positions, describing the decision as progressive for national development.
Another school principal, Mr Enyi Michael of Maria Assumpta School, said younger leadership could help examination bodies respond better to modern technological challenges, particularly cyber threats and digital system management.
He expressed confidence that the new registrar would introduce reforms capable of correcting some of the irregularities experienced during the previous administration.
With growing expectations from parents, educators, and school administrators, JAMB’s new leadership is not under pressure to improve examination standards, strengthen digital infrastructure, and create a more student-friendly admission process across Nigeria.
(NAN)
