(Segun Aina. Photo by Nation News)
Prof. Segun Aina, the recently appointed Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has vowed to wage an unwavering battle against examination misconduct, warning fraud syndicates and unscrupulous operators that their “business is in the wrong institution.”
Prof. Aina made the announcement on Friday during his formal handover ceremony at the JAMB National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, where he presented his vision for ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system.
He pledged to deploy every lawful technological, administrative and investigative tool available to detect, deter and prosecute offenders, while also committing to building a more transparent, customer-focused and technology-driven examination body.
Declaring integrity as the foundation of his leadership, Aina described fraudulent admissions as a grave injustice to the nation, vowing to protect the integrity of JAMB with everything the law permits.
He issued a stern warning to those who organise examination malpractice, recruit impersonators, forge credentials, compromise CBT centres, exploit desperate candidates and parents, or engage in cybercrime, extortion, bribery or identity theft, telling them plainly that their activities have no place within the institution.
He said the board would deepen collaboration with security and law enforcement agencies while investing in advanced technologies and global best practices to stay ahead of fraudsters, stressing that the future belongs to those who prepare rather than those who cheat.
Describing every fraudulent admission secured through malpractice as a place stolen from an honest Nigerian, adding that the board would do everything within the law to prevent such theft from succeeding.
Prof. Aina, who succeeded Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, described JAMB as more than just an examination body, calling it the bridge between aspiration and opportunity for millions of young Nigerians.
He said behind every registration number is a young person with a dream, behind every application a family making sacrifices, and behind every admission the hope for a better future, noting that few public institutions are entrusted with something so precious, a responsibility he considers the board’s greatest.
He assured candidates and parents that his administration would ease the stress and uncertainty often associated with JAMB’s processes by simplifying procedures, improving communication and strengthening customer support, stating that every interaction with the board should leave Nigerians more informed, more respected and less anxious.
He said the institution must never become a source of unnecessary distress for Nigerians, whether they visit its offices, call its help desk, or engage with it online, insisting they should instead encounter professionalism, courtesy, clarity and genuine care.
Aina also stressed the need to strengthen institutional systems rather than rely on individual influence, arguing that sustainable public institutions are built on strong values and accountability.
He said that if, by the end of his tenure, JAMB becomes less dependent on individuals and more reliant on strong systems, and more resilient because of its culture rather than personalities, he would consider his service worthwhile.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment, pledging to serve with integrity and diligence, and describing himself as deeply grateful for the confidence reposed in him to lead one of Nigeria’s most consequential public institutions.
He assured the President and all Nigerians that he would discharge the role with fairness, diligence and unwavering commitment to the public good.
The registrar also thanked the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for his reform efforts, pledging continued collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.
Paying tribute to former JAMB registrars, including pioneer registrar Michael Saidu Angulu, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, Prof. Bello Salim, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde and his immediate predecessor, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Aina credited them with laying the foundation of the institution, particularly commending Oloyede for strengthening the board’s credibility and ensuring a smooth transition.
He said leadership is measured not only by how one assumes office but by how one prepares others to succeed, describing Oloyede’s willingness to share his experience and place the institution above self as reflective of the values that defined his tenure.
Reflecting on his own journey, Aina described his appointment as registrar as a homecoming, recalling his time at the board nearly two decades ago as a National Youth Service Corps member.
He said he once walked through JAMB’s gates as a young corps member, never imagining he would one day return as registrar, an experience that taught him JAMB is a community of dedicated public servants quietly changing the lives of millions of Nigerians.
Addressing JAMB staff, he urged them to embrace innovation, professionalism and integrity while contributing ideas to improve the institution, stressing that its future would not be shaped by the registrar’s office alone but by thousands of dedicated public servants choosing daily to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.
He also called for greater collaboration with stakeholders across the education sector, including vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, regulatory agencies and development partners.
To Nigerian youths, Aina offered a message of hope and responsibility, urging them never to believe that integrity no longer matters or that shortcuts can substitute for genuine preparation, encouraging them instead to believe in honest work, and stressing that while Nigeria needs their intelligence, it needs their integrity even more.
He added that every decision under his leadership would be guided by one simple principle: whether it would make it easier or harder for an honest Nigerian child to realise their dreams, vowing that if the answer is harder, such a decision would not be made, but if easier, it would be pursued with excellence.