President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), following the completion of the tenure of Professor Is-haq Oloyede.

According to the announcement, Professor Oloyede’s second and final term as JAMB Registrar will officially end on July 31, 2026, paving the way for Professor Aina to assume leadership of the nation’s foremost tertiary admissions body.

Professor Aina, who will turn 40 in July, is widely recognised as a respected academic, technology expert, and specialist in digital systems and institutional reforms. His appointment is seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s educational and examination systems through innovation and technology-driven administration.

The new JAMB Registrar obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent. He also earned a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security, alongside a PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University. In addition, he completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.

A Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Aina began his early professional journey with JAMB during his National Youth Service. His experience with the examination body reportedly gave him deep insight into Nigeria’s admission and examination processes, shaping his later contributions to digital examination reforms and systems development.

With more than 15 years of professional experience, Professor Aina has worked closely with federal and state governments on digital transformation, institutional reforms, and technology-driven policy implementation. At the age of 39, he became one of Nigeria’s youngest professors in Computer Engineering and is now set to become the youngest Registrar in JAMB’s history.

Over the years, he has also served as a consultant to several examination bodies, including the National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and different State Ministries of Education, where he contributed to improving examination integrity, ICT systems, and digital administrative processes.

Professor Aina is also affiliated with several professional organisations, 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).

President Tinubu expressed confidence that the newly appointed registrar would build on the achievements of his predecessor and further reposition JAMB through innovation, efficiency, and transparent administration.

An Ekiti-born student, Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, has emerged as the highest-scoring candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), scoring an impressive 372 out of a possible 400 marks.

The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 Admission Policy Meeting convened by JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede.

According to Oloyede, Jesudunsin sat for the examination in Ogun State and selected University of Lagos as her first-choice institution, where she intends to study Medicine and Surgery.

Her remarkable performance places her at the top of the national ranking for the 2026 UTME exercise, although the score falls slightly below the 375 recorded in 2025 by Chinedu Okeke from Anambra State.

Other Top-Performing Candidates

Coming second nationwide was Enwere Kingsley Ikenna from Imo State, who scored 370 marks after sitting for the examination in Lagos State. He chose Nile University as his preferred institution to study Computer Science.

In third position was Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State, who scored 369 marks and selected Federal University of Technology Akure to study Software Engineering.

Other candidates who distinguished themselves with exceptional scores include:

Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin from Oyo State — 368 marks, chose Pan-Atlantic University for Mechatronics Engineering.

Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi from Imo State — 368 marks, selected University of Port Harcourt for Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen from Edo State — 368 marks, chose University of Benin for Mechanical Engineering.

Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony from Osun State — 368 marks, selected Obafemi Awolowo University for Computer Engineering.

Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony from Anambra State — 368 marks, chose Afe Babalola University for Software Engineering.

Offorkile Michael Okechukwu from Abia State — 367 marks, applied to study Computer Science.

Adebisi Eniola Sonari from Ogun State — 367 marks, selected Covenant University for Computer Science.

Umukoro Gift Orhenevovwero from Delta State — 367 marks, chose University of Lagos for Electrical/Electronics Engineering.

JAMB Introduces “Bring Your Own Device” Policy for 2027

In another major development, Oloyede disclosed that JAMB plans to introduce a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) option beginning from the 2027 UTME exercise.

Under the proposed innovation, candidates will be permitted to use personal devices during examinations, with special flash drives inserted into the systems to prevent examination malpractice and maintain the integrity of the process.

The JAMB Registrar explained that the initiative would reduce operational costs, simplify logistics, and address complaints from candidates whose examination systems reportedly malfunction during tests.

He added that the board is working on additional technological innovations aimed at ensuring a smoother and more efficient examination process in the coming years.

Deadlines Approved for 2026 Admission Exercise

Stakeholders at the policy meeting also approved timelines for the completion of the 2026 admission process across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

According to the resolutions reached:

Public universities are expected to conclude admissions on or before October 31, 2026.

Private universities must complete admissions by November 30, 2026.

Oloyede directed all institutions to strictly adhere to the approved deadlines, warning that any institution that fails to conclude admissions within the stipulated timeframe would lose access to candidates for that admission cycle.

He further announced that all successful candidates must accept their admission offers within four weeks, stressing that failure to do so would automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer and could render such candidates ineligible for further admission consideration during the session.

The JAMB Registrar noted that the measures are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fairness, transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.

The performance of the top candidates in the 2026 UTME has once again sparked nationwide conversations about academic excellence, competitiveness, and the growing standard of tertiary entrance examinations in the country.

The Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged pioneer students of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES), Iyin Ekiti, to uphold academic integrity and discipline as they begin their academic journey.

Bamidele gave the charge  during the maiden matriculation ceremony of the institution, where over 1,500 students were formally admitted into various programmes.

Addressing the students, the lawmaker stressed the importance of education in national development and called on them to key into the vision behind the establishment of the specialised university.

He recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of FUTES on February 20, 2025, to advance agricultural, technological and environmental studies, with the goal of producing job creators and problem solvers.

Bamidele expressed optimism that the take-off of the institution would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leader in specialised technology and production in Africa and on the global stage.

As part of his support for the institution’s growth, the Senate Leader pledged an annual N200 million research grant to boost its academic development, in addition to other supports he had previously extended to the university.

He commended the Governing Council and Management of FUTES for ensuring the smooth and timely take-off of the institution.

Bamidele also expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for his support for the project. He thanked traditional rulers, including Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, as well as clergymen and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful launch of the university.