Tinubu Appoints Aina as New JAMB Registrar

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), marking a generational shift in leadership at the nation’s central admissions agency.

Aina will succeed Is-haq Oloyede, whose two-term tenure is set to expire on July 31, 2026. The appointment places the 40-year-old academic and systems expert at the helm of one of Nigeria’s most critical education institutions, responsible for coordinating tertiary admissions nationwide.

According to details of the appointment, President Tinubu expects Aina to leverage his extensive expertise in technology, examination systems and institutional reform to strengthen the board’s operations and build on the reforms initiated by his predecessor. The presidency described the new registrar as a forward-thinking professional with the capacity to modernise JAMB’s processes and enhance transparency.

Professor Aina, a Computer Engineering scholar, brings over 15 years of experience spanning digital infrastructure, public sector advisory and examination system design. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, as well as a Master’s degree and PhD from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, where he specialised in Internet Computing, Network Security and Digital Signal Processing.

Currently a professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Aina rose rapidly through academic ranks and became one of Nigeria’s youngest professors in his field. His career trajectory has been defined by a blend of academic excellence and hands-on policy engagement, particularly in the digitisation of examination systems.

He began his relationship with JAMB during his National Youth Service, gaining early exposure to the board’s operations and data-driven processes. That experience, according to associates, laid the foundation for his long-standing involvement in examination reform and system optimisation.

Beyond academia, Aina has served as a consultant to major examination bodies, including the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), advising on ICT deployment, examination integrity and digital transformation strategies. He has also worked with federal and state governments on institutional reform initiatives.

Education stakeholders say his appointment could signal a renewed push toward technology-driven solutions in Nigeria’s admission process, particularly in tackling issues such as malpractice, data management and system efficiency.

Aina is a member of several professional organisations, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

With his appointment, expectations are high that JAMB will deepen its digital transformation and consolidate its role as a transparent and efficient gateway to higher education in Nigeria.