JAMB has issued a stern warning to all Nigerian universities, cautioning them against the admission of underage candidates.
The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has issued a warning to tertiary institutions, particularly universities, regarding the admission of underage students. He emphasized that such admissions are illegal and must cease immediately.
He stated that unauthorized admissions, such as enrolling
minors, should be terminated.
Oloyede made a statement during the opening of the seventh
biennial conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned
Universities in Nigeria, which was held on Tuesday in Lagos.
The conference's central theme was “Effective University
Governance: The Role of Stakeholders.”
In the interest of maintaining accountability, data
security, and national integrity, it is imperative that this action be ceased.
Any deviation from established norms constitutes a breach of the law.
“About two months ago, I received a letter from an European
country to confirm if a student actually graduated from a particular university
because she is 15 years old and applied for postgraduate course.
“They question they asked me is “Is this possible in
Nigeria.
“I had to call the Vice Chancellor of the institution and he
confirmed the student graduated from the university but was not admitted by
JAMB.
“He had to include that he was not the VC at the time the
student was admitted,” Oloyede said.
It is imperative for state-run universities to take
significant action in addressing this matter, given their greater numerical
presence compared to federal universities, he said.
“Also illegal admission of diploma students needs to stop
because last year, we admitted 9,000 diploma students; I was alarmed that about
3,000 students came from a particular university.
“Everyone of us should be accountable because all these acts
can damage our education system,” Oloyede said.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari, a former Chief of Staff to the
President, strongly advised the pro-chancellors to develop a strategic plan
outlining the specific actions they intend to take to enhance the
competitiveness and attractiveness of their institutions, bringing them on par
with federal and private universities.
Gambari indicated that this strategy enabled the institution
to retain several of its most highly regarded faculty and staff members, which
subsequently drew the most exceptional candidates from the pool of qualified
students.
“State owned universities must explore how best to carve out
specific niches which inevitably place them in a position to exploit
corresponding comparative advantages that enhance their position.
“Successfully executing this , a foundation for brand
creation and recognition is ascertained,” he said.
Senator Joshua Lidani, Chair of COPSUN, stated that the
theme encompassed numerous topics related to governance within the university
system..
Lidani, Pro-Chancellor of Gombe State University,
highlighted the various challenges currently affecting the university system
and tertiary education as a whole.
“Some of these challenges include: corrupt practices,
impersonation, miracle exam centres, inadequate funding, proliferation of
universities.
“Others were discriminate and premature dissolution of
governing councils and boards of tertiary educational institutions and delay in
reconstituting them,” he said.
Lidani further stated that, in addition to the illegality of
these actions, a significant void was frequently left in the institution’s
administration, resulting in various irregularities.
“Incessant strike action by ASUU and other labour unions and
the attendant consequences in stability, quality and standards.
“These are definitely not exhaustive but are symptomatic of
the deep malaise that is affecting the system and extent of the problem.
“Of course, this conference alone will not be able to
address the problem but it can raise public consciousness and alarm at the
threat posed to good governance, standards and quality in the tertiary
educational system.
“I have no doubt that the conference can point the way
forward and advise on the way stakeholders can play a better and rightful role
in uplifting the standards of education in the country,” he said.