JAMB

Stakeholders in attendance at the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting were shocked when the Minister of Education, Prof Mamman Tahir, declared that candidates seeking admission into higher institutions must be 18 years old or above.

Despite objections from the crowd, Tahir stood by the government’s decision, stating that it was based on the belief that candidates are more mature at that age.

He encouraged anyone who disagreed to seek amendment through the National Assembly.

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, known as JAMB, reported the apprehension of a parent caught impersonating his child in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

The regulatory body cautioned that it has enhanced its technological measures to identify individuals involved in various forms of academic dishonesty.

During a visit to JAMB facilities in Kaduna, the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, expressed contentment with the 2024 examination process, which saw a participation of 1.94 million candidates this year.

While acknowledging this success, he expressed disapproval towards isolated incidents of impersonation, highlighting the issue of individuals possessing multiple National Identity Numbers (NIN), a matter to be addressed with the Identification Management body.

Professor Oloyede emphasized the necessity for JAMB to receive support from densely populated states such as Lagos in establishing large-scale CBT centers similar to the one in Kaduna, capable of accommodating 4,000 test-takers daily.