Professor Segun Aina has officially assumed office as the 6th Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), promising to protect the examination body’s credibility and make life easier for young applicants across Nigeria.
The formal handover ceremony took place on Friday at the Board’s national headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, where the outgoing registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, handed over authority to his successor.
Addressing members of the management, staff, and invited guests, Professor Aina declared that protecting the integrity of public examinations will remain the top priority of his tenure. He noted that modern technology and operational efficiency lose their purpose if public trust in the system is eroded.
“Trust is not built by speeches,” Aina stated during his inaugural speech. “It is built by decisions, by the choices we make when no one is watching, by the standards we refuse to compromise. The first commitment of my stewardship is simple: we shall protect the integrity of JAMB with everything the law permits.”
Sending a direct warning to examination fraud syndicates, impersonators, rogue Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre operators, and corrupt officials, the new registrar made it clear that his administration will actively pursue and prosecute offenders. He noted that every fraudulent admission deprives an honest Nigerian youth of a rightful spot, describing such acts as theft of national opportunity.
To tackle these problems, Aina pledged to work closely with law enforcement agencies, upgrade existing technical systems, and adopt proven global standards to stay ahead of cybercriminals and exam fraudsters.
Alongside strict enforcement, the computer engineering professor highlighted his desire to transform the board’s public image and operational culture. He promised to reduce the stress, delays, and confusion often experienced by candidates and their families during registration and tertiary admission exercises.
According to him, JAMB must function with empathy, ensuring that every interaction—whether through online platforms, help desks, or physical offices—is marked by clarity, courtesy, and efficiency.
“An institution entrusted with dreams must never become the source of unnecessary trauma,” he said, asking staff members to evaluate their daily decisions based on whether they help or hinder a candidate’s legitimate pursuit.
In a personal reflection, Aina described his appointment as a full-circle moment. He recalled coming to the Board nearly twenty years ago as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, noting that returning to lead the institution fills him with deep humility and gratitude.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to lead the organization. He also thanked the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and paid tribute to previous registrars, with special praise for Professor Oloyede’s work in modernising the admissions system and ensuring a smooth transition process.
Aina stressed that his long-term goal is to build strong, reliable systems that do not depend on any single individual, ensuring JAMB remains an efficient, transparent institution that every Nigerian can rely on.
