President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), marking the beginning of a new leadership era for the nation’s tertiary admissions agency.
The appointment was announced on Thursday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Aina will succeed Professor Ishaq Oloyede, whose tenure as registrar is expected to officially end on July 31, 2026, after ten years in office widely regarded as one of the most reform-driven periods in JAMB’s history.
Oloyede Leaves Legacy of Financial and Institutional Reforms
Under Oloyede’s leadership, JAMB underwent significant operational restructuring, technological upgrades, and financial reforms that transformed the agency’s public image and internal efficiency.
Within a few years of assuming office in 2016, the board recorded unprecedented remittances to the Federal Government.
According to official records, JAMB’s remittances rose from less than ₦50 million cumulatively between 1978 and 2016 to ₦7.8 billion in 2017 alone.
Between 2016 and 2026, the examination body reportedly remitted over ₦20.7 billion in operating surplus while also funding infrastructure projects and staff development initiatives from internally generated revenue.
His administration was also credited with strengthening examination monitoring systems and expanding the use of technology in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Who Is Professor Segun Aina?
Professor Segun Aina is a Computer Engineering scholar at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with extensive experience in digital systems, institutional reforms, and examination technology.
He is regarded as one of Nigeria’s youngest professors in Computer Engineering and is set to become the youngest registrar in JAMB’s history.
Aina’s academic and professional profile reflects a strong background in information systems, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure management.
Academic Qualifications and Professional Background
According to details released alongside the appointment, Aina holds:
- A Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Computer Systems Engineering obtained in 2008
- A Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security completed in 2009
- A PhD in Electrical Engineering with specialisation in Signal Processing earned in 2015
He is also a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), having secured professional registration in 2017.
Further strengthening his management credentials, Aina completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.
His academic training includes studies at the University of Kent and Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, where he specialised in digital signal processing and network systems.
Experience in Examination Technology and Public Sector Reform
Beyond academia, Aina has spent more than 15 years working on digital transition projects, institutional reforms, and technology-driven governance initiatives.
He has reportedly advised both federal and state governments on ICT systems and public-sector digital infrastructure.
Importantly, he also served as a consultant to examination agencies including:
- The National Examinations Council (NECO)
- The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)
His work focused largely on examination integrity systems, digital monitoring, and ICT-driven reforms aimed at improving transparency and operational efficiency.
Expectations Ahead of Leadership Transition
Education stakeholders are expected to closely watch how Aina builds on the reforms introduced under Oloyede while addressing emerging challenges such as examination malpractice, digital security threats, and increasing demand for transparent admissions processes.
Analysts say his strong technology background could shape the next phase of JAMB’s digital transformation, particularly as computer-based examinations and data-driven monitoring continue to evolve.
His appointment also reflects the Federal Government’s increasing preference for technocrats and digital policy experts in key public institutions.