JAMB ISSUES IMPORTANT UPDATE ON ADMISSIONS TO NEW INSTITUTIONS

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern warning to newly established and upgraded tertiary institutions across Nigeria, cautioning them against engaging in illegal admission practices and urging full compliance with the Board’s approved admission procedures.

The warning was delivered by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during an interactive session with principal officers of newly established, upgraded, and adopted universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, held on Monday, April 14, 2025, in Abuja.

No Tolerance for Illegal Admissions”–JAMB

Prof. Oloyede emphasized that all admissions must go through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), JAMB's official platform. "Whoever admits a candidate illegally will be dealt with," he stated. He highlighted the 'Marketplace' feature on CAPS, allowing institutions to source qualified candidates from the central database, promoting transparency and rule compliance.

Over 100 New Institutions Join Nigeria’s Tertiary System

JAMB disclosed that more than 100 new tertiary institutions have been approved in recent months, including:

- 22 new universities

- 15 upgraded federal colleges of education (now offering both NCE and degree programs)

- 33 new polytechnics and monotechnics

- 12 new colleges of education

Prof. Oloyede urged these institutions to embrace digital processes, train their staff, and adopt full automation in line with modern academic systems.

ASUU Strikes Still Affecting Academic Calendar

The Registrar also raised concern over the disruption of academic calendars, blaming strikes and administrative delays for Nigeria’s overlapping sessions. “Some institutions are still going at their own pace, finishing 2021 in 2023, finishing 2022 in 2024. We are running four concurrent sessions; this wouldn’t have been possible if we hadn’t planned it properly,” he said.

NCCE Urges Institutions to Embrace Technology

In his remarks, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), praised JAMB for introducing innovative tools to level the playing field between older and newer institutions. He urged new school administrators to fully understand the CAPS process and integrate it into their systems to ensure fair, transparent, and efficient student admissions.

Final Word

JAMB’s session marks a significant step toward strengthening the admission process, especially as Nigeria’s higher education landscape expands rapidly. Institutions have been advised to prioritize compliance, automation, and proper staff training to avoid sanctions and uphold academic integrity. Stay with us for further updates on admission guidelines, JAMB CAPS procedures, and UTME 2025 developments.