Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), marking a major leadership transition at Nigeria's tertiary admissions body as the tenure of Professor Is-haq Oloyede draws to a close after ten years at the helm. The appointment, announced in a statement on Thursday, May 21, 2026, by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, sees the 39-year-old computer engineering professor taking over from Professor Oloyede, whose two-term, 10-year tenure expires on July 31, 2026. Professor Aina will be 40 in July, and his appointment makes him the youngest person to ever lead the examination body in its history, capping a remarkable journey from a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stint at the board to its top executive office.
According to the Presidency's statement, Aina is a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, and public-sector institutional reform. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security, and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing, both from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. He has also completed the Senior Management Programme at the Lagos Business School. Described as one of Nigeria's youngest professors of Computer Engineering, Aina lectures at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. His professional journey with JAMB began during his NYSC, providing him with foundational experience in national admissions processes. With over 15 years of post-graduation experience, he operates at the intersection of technology, policy, and institutional transformation, advising federal and state governments on system design, digital transition, and operational reform. He has also served as a consultant to major examination bodies, including the National Examination Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), providing expertise on ICT systems, examination integrity, and digital process optimisation.
Professor Aina is a member of several professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). In his new role, he is expected to assume office on August 1, 2026, immediately after Professor Oloyede's departure. President Tinubu expressed confidence that the incoming registrar will consolidate ongoing reforms, enhance operational efficiency, and bring JAMB "beyond the laudable heights achieved by his predecessor."
The appointment occurs at a significant moment for JAMB, which has just released the results of 279 candidates whose scores were previously withheld for suspected malpractice. The transition also follows a period during which JAMB and other stakeholders agreed on new admission cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 academic year, setting a minimum score of 150 for university admissions. As the incoming chief executive prepares to take the helm, stakeholders across the education sector are watching to see how his technology expertise will shape the next phase of Nigeria's national admissions process, which has already undergone a massive digital transformation under his predecessor.
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