Paragraph 1: Expanding Access to Tertiary Education
Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s approval of 67 new tertiary institutions. This significant expansion, encompassing 22 universities, 33 polytechnics and monotechnics, and 12 colleges of education, is scheduled to take place between late 2024 and 2025. Oloyede emphasized that this initiative reflects the President’s dedication to broadening access to higher education in Nigeria. The announcement was made during an interactive session held in Abuja with the principal officers of these newly established, upgraded, and recently approved institutions.
Paragraph 2: Adherence to Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS)
A central theme of the interactive session was the mandatory use of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) for all admissions. Oloyede issued a stern warning against illegal admissions, emphasizing that there would be no room for regularization of such entries. CAPS, introduced in 2017, is designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and integrity in the admission process by automating and streamlining procedures. Institutions attempting to bypass this platform risk having their admissions nullified. Oloyede instructed all newly approved institutions, totaling over 80, including universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education, to comply fully with these standardized admission procedures.
Paragraph 3: Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS)
In addition to CAPS, JAMB introduced the Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS) in 2018. IBASS enhances communication between JAMB and institutions and provides clear eligibility checks for academic programs. Both CAPS and IBASS have been upgraded to include institutional mail services, making them the sole official communication channels between JAMB and tertiary institutions. Oloyede clarified that only academic programs approved by the relevant regulatory bodies – the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) – would be activated on these platforms.
Paragraph 4: Institutional Compliance and Technical Support
Oloyede stressed that institutional compliance with CAPS and IBASS is non-negotiable, with zero tolerance for backdoor admissions. He mandated that each institution nominate designated officers to manage their access to these platforms. While JAMB pledged to provide technical support to the institutions, Oloyede warned against any attempts to circumvent the established procedures. The interactive session featured a live demonstration of CAPS and IBASS to guide the institutions on their proper operation, ensuring a practical understanding of the platforms.
Paragraph 5: Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Clarity
Professor William Qurix, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, expressed his appreciation for the enlightening engagement. He highlighted how the session had addressed the challenges faced by new institutions, particularly those approved after the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration period. The clarification provided by JAMB regarding the use of CAPS and IBASS, along with the assurance of prompt support, was welcomed as highly impactful for these newly established institutions.
Paragraph 6: Dual-Mode Colleges of Education and Regulatory Compliance
Dr. Uche Uba, Director of Colleges at the Ministry of Education, addressed newly upgraded colleges of education operating a dual-mode system (offering both National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programs). She emphasized the need for these institutions to familiarize themselves with and comply with NUC requirements. Dr. Uba noted that only a small fraction of the upgraded institutions had reported to the NUC, emphasizing the importance of resource verification for these now independently operating entities. Professor Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the NCCE, commended JAMB’s technological innovations in streamlining the admission process. He urged newly approved colleges of education offering both degree and NCE programs to adhere to the stipulated procedures to ensure competitiveness and maintain credibility in their operations.
