The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has completed the full automation of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) question‑setting process, marking the final phase of a decade-long digital transformation of Nigeria’s central admissions system.
Announcing the milestone during a training programme for test developers at the University of Ibadan, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, described the development as a major step toward modernising the Board’s operations and enhancing examination integrity.
“We are here at the University of Ibadan to do the last round of our automation process,” Oloyede said. “This phase is about automating the authoring of questions. Our authors can now set questions from their various locations without having to travel across the country.”
He explained that the automation will make the question‑setting process more efficient, less expensive, and less tedious, while improving the security and integrity of examination content. According to the Registrar, robust safeguards have been embedded in the system to ensure that every stage of the process remains secure and tamper-proof.
“As of this morning, we have registered about two million candidates, surpassing the figure at this time last year,” Oloyede added. “Pin vending ends tomorrow, February 26, and there will be no extension. Those who have obtained their pins are expected to complete their registration before the deadline.”
The Registrar also reiterated the Board’s zero-tolerance policy on malpractice. “There is no shortcut to education. We are monitoring the system closely and those attempting to subvert it will be apprehended,” he warned, stressing that technology-driven safeguards will support enforcement efforts.
The training programme brought together advisers, directors, and test developers from tertiary and secondary institutions nationwide. Academic leaders, including Vice-Chancellors and university representatives, commended the automation, describing it as a critical advancement for quality assurance in admissions. They noted that the move is expected to reduce the burden of post‑UTME screening and raise confidence in the credibility of the UTME platform.
