JAMB Moves to Reduce Admission Anxiety, Warns Candidates Against Identity Fraud
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced measures to reduce anxiety among admission seekers, improve access to candidates’ accounts and make the admission process more transparent.
The board’s Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interaction with Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates at JAMB’s Abuja Zonal Office as part of activities marking its 2026 Customer Week.
Aina said the measures were designed to build public confidence and reduce the difficulties candidates encounter during registration and admission.
He explained that candidates would now have access to more detailed information about the progress of their admission applications instead of relying solely on notifications such as “not admitted” or “admission in progress”.
According to him, the improved system would help candidates understand the status of their applications and reduce the uncertainty associated with waiting for admission decisions.
“All the policy optimisation that we are doing is centred around two things: building trust and reducing trauma,” he said.
The registrar also disclosed that JAMB had deployed technology to make it easier for candidates to update their telephone numbers and email addresses when they lose access to the contact details used during registration.
He added that the board was working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to address discrepancies in candidates’ names and other personal information.
Aina said the collaboration would make legitimate corrections easier while maintaining safeguards against identity manipulation.
However, he warned candidates against exploiting the new measures to falsify their identities or circumvent admission rules.
“If you would like to change your entire name, we will keep track of you. And if you are trying to take advantage of the system, please get ready. You will be feeling the full weight of the law in due course,” he warned.
Aina also acknowledged the contributions of previous JAMB administrations, particularly that of his predecessor, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to strengthening the admission system and expanding the use of technology.
He stressed that the board’s responsibilities extended beyond conducting the UTME to coordinating admissions and ensuring that qualified candidates received fair consideration.
“The people we serve don’t need to know anybody to get admission,” he said, adding that JAMB was committed to ensuring that candidates secured places in tertiary institutions based on established requirements.
In another development, Aina disclosed that the board had inaugurated a committee to examine the possibility of incorporating critical thinking and life skills into its examinations.
He said the proposal was still under consideration and that no final decision had been taken.
According to him, the committee would assess whether skills such as reasoning, problem-solving and decision-making could complement existing academic assessments.
Aina said any proposed changes would depend on the committee’s findings and management’s approval.
He reiterated that JAMB would continue to improve its services through technology, institutional collaboration and policy adjustments aimed at making registration and admission less stressful while protecting the integrity of the process.
