ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has declared that all applications for admission to first-degree programmes, national diplomas, and other tertiary-level courses must be processed exclusively through it.
The announcement came through a statement titled “Cessation Of Illegal/Irregular Admission,” released on JAMB’s official X account on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
ATTENTION!!!
CESSATION OF ILLEGAL/IRREGULAR ADMISSION
All applications of admissions to First Degree, National Diploma, National Innovation Diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into Full-Time,— JAMB (@JAMBHQ) August 23, 2023
“All applications of admission to First Degree, National Diploma, National Innovation Diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into Full-Time, Distance Learning, Part-Time, Outreach, Sandwich, etc., must be processed ONLY through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),” the statement read.
The examination body clarified that no educational institution should sell or advertise “application forms” for program admissions independently.
The move aims to bring transparency and order to the often-chaotic admission processes that have plagued educational institutions in Nigeria.
JAMB also instructed all institutions to guide their candidates to apply via the JAMB platform, stating that duplication of application forms is strictly prohibited.
“Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, and the three Regulatory Agencies (National Universities Commission, NUC, the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education, NCCE, will ensure that all tertiary institutions comply with this policy directive,” JAMB stated.
The board added that other professional regulatory agencies would also monitor and ensure compliance, thereby “sanitizing the process.”
This directive is expected to have wide-reaching implications for educational institutions across Nigeria, affecting not only universities but also polytechnics and colleges.
Experts in the field see this as a significant step towards standardization and fairness in the admission processes. “For too long, the admission process in Nigeria has been mired in confusion and, often, unfair practices. Streamlining admissions through JAMB will bring much-needed clarity and equity,” said Dr. Chijioke Okonkwo, an educational consultant based in Abuja.
However, some are concerned about the centralization of power and the possibility of system failures.
“While the intent is good, putting all eggs in one basket could have its setbacks. JAMB needs to demonstrate the capacity to handle this enormous responsibility,” cautioned Prof. Amina Yusuf, a lecturer at the University of Lagos.
With a promise to enforce this policy rigorously, JAMB and its partnering regulatory agencies have drawn a line in the sand, challenging educational institutions to align with this new directive or face penalties.
The next admission cycle will be the first real test of this ambitious reform.
