Nigeria’s new JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, has launched an ambitious five-year reform agenda aimed at transforming how the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board operates, promising a less stressful and more technology-driven admissions experience for millions of candidates.
Branded “JAMB 2031: Building Trust, Reducing Trauma,” the roadmap was unveiled on Monday during his first official briefing since assuming office the previous Friday.
The reform programme is built on five strategic pillars: Integrity, Service, Governance, Technology, and Partnerships.
Here is what candidates, parents, and tertiary institutions can expect over the next five years.
A unified JAMB mobile application is one of the most visible changes coming. Rather than visiting multiple portals or accredited centres for routine services, candidates will be able to handle registration, profile management, examination updates, admission tracking, and notifications from a single app on their phones.
JAMB also plans to go fully paperless, migrating its internal operations to an enterprise-wide digital administration system. The move is expected to cut bureaucracy, speed up processes, improve record management, and make decision-making more transparent.
Artificial Intelligence and advanced data analytics will for the first time become central to JAMB’s operations. AI-powered systems will support decision-making, improve service delivery, and strengthen examination security.
The Board will also conduct an independent technology audit to identify weaknesses in its digital infrastructure and improve cybersecurity, ensuring the system can handle the growing number of UTME candidates.
JAMB is additionally pursuing ISO 27001 certification, the globally recognised standard for information security management, to strengthen the protection of candidates’ personal data and boost public confidence in its platforms.
A unified customer service platform is also planned to address the frequent complaints about difficulties in getting information or resolving admission issues. The Registrar described reducing what he calls “admission trauma” as one of his core priorities.
The Board equally intends to overhaul its communication strategy through strategic brand repositioning, with more proactive stakeholder engagement and clearer public information to reduce the confusion that often surrounds admissions exercises.
Beyond technology, Aina stressed that the transformation would be as much about people as digital tools, promising investment in staff welfare, professional development, and capacity building.
The reforms come at a time of enormous pressure on Nigeria’s admissions system. Between 2021 and 2025, more than 10 million candidates sat the UTME, but only about 3.5 million secured placement in tertiary institutions, leaving millions without admission despite meeting basic requirements.
Whether the JAMB 2031 agenda delivers on its promise will become clearer as implementation begins in the months ahead.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
