At 39, Professor Segun Aina becomes the youngest Registrar of JAMB. He is expected to continue digital reforms and maintain the transparency started by Ishaq Oloyede. TOYE FALEYE looks at how Aina can transform JAMB and build on Oloyede’s legacy.
President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of 39-year-old Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of JAMB made headlines throughout Nigeria’s education sector.
This is the first time JAMB will be led by someone under 40, showing a strong move toward technology, reform, and youthful energy.
But Aina’s story is not just about his age. It is also about continuing and improving on the strong foundation set by Professor Ishaq Oloyede to create a digital future for Nigeria’s admissions system.
From Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to Abuja’s Power Corridors
Aina’s journey has been far from ordinary. He is a computer engineering prodigy who earned degrees from the University of Kent and Loughborough University in the UK, focusing on digital signal processing and network security.
After returning to Nigeria, he became a professor at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and gained a reputation as a forward-thinking academic who cares deeply about reform.
Early in his career, he worked at JAMB during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). There, he saw firsthand the problems in Nigeria’s admissions system, such as long lines, slow paper processes, and loopholes that allowed corruption. This experience inspired his journey to the top of the institution.
The Legacy He Inherits
Professor Ishaq Oloyede, his predecessor, is widely credited with transforming JAMB into a financially transparent and digitally efficient body.
Under Oloyede, JAMB remitted ₦20.7 billion to the federal government between 2016 and 2026, a record-breaking achievement.
He digitised registration, introduced biometric verification, and greatly reduced exam malpractice. Aina now takes on this legacy and faces the challenge of leading JAMB into a new era of digital advancement.
Aina’s Blueprint for Transformation
AiAina’s plan for JAMB is based on three main ideas: improving digital infrastructure, ensuring exams are honest, and providing better services for students.
He plans to launch several projects to grow JAMB’s digital presence. These include a cloud-based admissions platform, AI systems to detect fraud, and easy-to-use mobile apps so candidates can track their applications and results in real time.
Drawing from his experience with the National Examination Council (NECO) and National Business and Technical Examinations (NABTEB), he aims to improve biometric systems, use blockchain for certification, and set up advanced surveillance in exam centres to keep exams fair.
His youth and fresh perspective could change how students interact with JAMB. He plans to offer 24/7 digital support, make mobile registration easier, and give real-time updates on admission status to make the process more open and accessible for everyone.
Challenges Ahead
Even with his plans, Aina faces big challenges. Relying more on digital systems could make JAMB a target for cyberattacks. Also, poor internet in rural areas might slow down the adoption of his reforms.
Some established groups may resist the major changes he wants to make. Overcoming these challenges will take both technical know-how and political skill.
A Symbol of Generational Change
Aina’s appointment is more than just a change in leadership. It shows Nigeria’s readiness to trust important institutions to a new generation.
His youth, skills, and passion for reform reflect Nigeria’s hopes for a modern, open, and student-friendly education system.
Everyone will be watching to see how he balances keeping what works with bringing in new ideas, mixing tradition with technology, and matching big goals with real-world limits as he gets ready to take over in July 2026.
In many ways, his tenure will be judged not only by how he changes JAMB but also by how well he builds on Oloyede’s achievements in creating a new digital path.