JAMB Clocks 40 Years - Celebrates Academic Excellence

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board, JAMB Clocks 40 Years - Celebrates Four Decades of Enhancing Academic Excellence

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board, JAMB on 13th February, 2018 will be celebrating their 40 years anniversary of enhancing academic excellence.

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board [JAMB] History

By 1974, there were seven (7) Federal Universities in the country. Every one of these existing universities conducted its own concessional examination and admitted its students.

However, this system of admission revealed serious limitations and quite often, waste of resources in the process of administering the concessional examination especially on the part of the candidates. The general untidiness in the uncoordinated system of admissions into universities and the attendant problems were sufficient cause for concern to the committee of vice - chancellors.These problems had assumed new dimension when by 1976, the then federal military government, under the leadership of General Olusegun Obasanjo,established six (6) additional universities.

Consequently, the government set up a national committee on university entrance under the chairmanship of Mr. M. S. Angulu.

The Committee was specifically requested to consider the possibility of setting up a Joint Matriculation Board.The Committee recommended the setting up of two (2) bodies, the Central Admissions Board and the Joint Matriculation Board. The Federal military government accepted some of the recommendations of the committee and set up the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. The legal instrument establishing the Board was however promulgated by the act (no. 2 of 1978) of the Federal Military Government on 13th February, 1978.

By August 1988, the Federal Executive Council amended decree No. 2 of 1978 to empower the Board to conduct matriculation examinations for entry into all polytechnics and colleges of education in the country and to place suitably qualified candidates in the available places in these institutions.

The amendments have since been codified into decree No. 33 of 1989, which took from 7th December, 1989. On assumption of office, the present administration set up a panel headed by Dr. Bala Usman to restructure the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. The Panel has since submitted its report and its recommendations are gradually being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education.

JAMB DECREE

The legal instrument establishing the Board was promulgated by the Act (No. 2 of 1978) of the Federal Military Government on 13th February, 1978. By August 1988, the Federal Executive Council amended Decree No. 2 of 1978.

The amendments have since been codified into Decree No. 33 of 1989, which took effect from 7th December, 1989. Decree No. 2 of 1978 (amended by Decree No. 33 of 1989) empowered the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to:

(a) conduct Matriculation Examination for entry into all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education (by whatever name called) in Nigeria

(b) appoint Examiners, Moderators, Invigilators, members of the Subject Panels and committees and other persons with respect to matriculation examinations and any other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.

(c) place suitably qualified candidates in the tertiary institutions after having taken into account:
(i) the vacancies available in each tertiary institution

(ii) the guidelines approved for each tertiary institution by its proprietors or other competent authorities

(iii) the preference expressed or otherwise indicated by the candidates for certain tertiary institutions and courses

(iv) such other matters as the Board may be directed by the Honorable Minister to consider or the Board itself may consider appropriate in the circumstances.

(d) collate and disseminate information on all matters relating to admissions into tertiary institutions or any other matter relevant to the discharge of functions of the board.

(e) carry out other activities as are necessary or expedient for the full discharge of all or any of the functions conferred on it under or pursuant to this Decree .

Joint Admission Matriculation Board [JAMB] Departments

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board department consist of the following below:
  • ADMISSIONS
  • CORPORATE SUPPORT SERVICE
  • FINANCE AND ACCOUNT
  • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
  • TEST DEVELOPMENT.
  • SPECIAL DUTIES
  • PSYCHOMETRICS
  • QUALITY ASSURANCE
  • GENERAL SERVICES
  • TEST ADMINISTRATION

JAMB Management Teams

The Management Teams of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board are the bodies set up to oversee or supersedes the activities of the board, they are definitely ruled or governed by some group of people as listed below:

  • Professor Is-haq Olarewaju Oloyede - Registrar / CE
  • Dr. Yusuf Lawal - Director, Test Administration Department
  • Mr. Abdullahi Dalhatu - Director, General Services Department
  • Mr. Omokunmi O. Popoola – Director, Psychometrics Department
  • Mr. Musa Masaya Aliyu -Ag. Director, Quality Assurance Department
  • Alhaji Kamaldeen A. Oladeji -Ag. Director, Admissions Department
  • Mrs. Kulu J. Yabilsu – Director, Corporate Support Services Department
  • Mr Fabian O. Okoro - Director, Information Technology Services Department
  • Mrs. Mabel E. Agbebaku - Ag. Director, General Services Department
  • Mr. Mufutau A. BELLO -Ag. Director, Finance and Accounts Department
  • Dr. Halilu Bakori -Ag. Director, Test Development Department
  • Fabian Benjamin, PhD., ANIPR,FCIA. – Head, Media & Publicity
  • Barrister Mohammed S. Ibrahim - Head, Legal and Secretariat Divisio