KEY POINTS

• JAMB’s centralized system has streamlined admissions but faces challenges like institutional corruption and rural-urban inequities in CBT access.

• Financial contributions to national coffers highlight its operational efficiency, yet gender and admission disparities persist.

• Technological upgrades (AI, blockchain) aim to restore trust, but collaboration with universities and regulators remains critical for equity.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s tertiary education system since its establishment in 1978. While widely known for administering the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), deeper analysis reveals lesser-discussed dynamics shaping its operations and challenges.

JAMB is a Nigerian entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions. The board conducts Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for prospective undergraduates into Nigerian universities. The board is also charged with the responsibility to administer similar examinations for applicants to Nigerian public and private monotechnics, polytechnics, and colleges of educations.

All of these candidates must have obtained the West Africa Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) conducted yearly by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, or its equivalent, National Examination Council (Nigeria), Senior School Certificate Examination, NECO SSCE.

Ten things to know about JAMB:

1. JAMB was created to centralize admissions and curb multiple enrollment, addressing chaotic pre-1978 practices where universities conducted separate exams, leading to inequities and administrative bottlenecks.

2. In 2013, JAMB transitioned from paper-based testing to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), reducing malpractice. By 2023, 98% of its 1.9 million candidates took CBT exams, though rural-urban digital divides persist.

3. JAMB remitted ₦27 billion to the federal treasury between 2017–2021, per NEITI audits, making it one of Nigeria’s highest-grossing education agencies.

4. JAMB’s annual cut-off marks (160+ for universities) spark debates, with critics arguing it prioritizes quotas over merit. Data shows only 38% of 2023 candidates scored above 200.

5. A 2022 EFCC report exposed 124 institutions issuing illegal admissions, prompting JAMB’s 2023 policy to void degrees from unapproved admissions.

6. The Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), launched in 2017, automated transparency in admissions. Yet, 23% of universities still bypass CAPS for “manual adjustments,” per JAMB’s 2023 review.

7. Female candidates accounted for 47% of UTME registrants in 2023, but only 41% gained admission into STEM programs, reflecting systemic barriers.

8. Universities’ post-UTME screenings, reintroduced in 2005, often contradict JAMB scores, creating confusion. In 2022, 62% of students admitted to UNILAG had higher post-UTME than JAMB scores.

9. JAMB accredits 12 foreign centers (e.g., Ghana, UK) for diaspora candidates. These centers recorded a 92% pass rate in 2023, versus 76% domestically.

10. JAMB plans AI-driven proctoring and blockchain-based certificate verification by 2025 to combat impersonation and forgery.