The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has reiterated that the board is not an examination body but an educational assessment and admission agency whose primary responsibility is facilitating access to tertiary education in Nigeria.
He said the widespread belief that JAMB exists mainly to conduct examinations is a misconception that has persisted for years.
Oloyede made the clarification while speaking at the maiden Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards held at the Civic Centre in Lagos, where seven outstanding undergraduates shared a total prize of ₦35 million.
He used the occasion to explain JAMB's statutory role and why many Nigerians misunderstand the board's mandate.
According to him, the fact that JAMB conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) does not make it an examination body in the same way that universities conduct examinations without being classified as examination agencies.
He explained that examinations are merely one of the tools JAMB uses to carry out its broader responsibility of coordinating admissions.
Oloyede noted that genuine examination bodies are institutions such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), whose core mandates revolve around conducting examinations and issuing certificates.
In contrast, JAMB's principal function is to assess candidates and coordinate their placement into tertiary institutions across the country.
He further explained that the UTME should not be viewed as the sole determinant of university admission.
According to the JAMB Registrar, admission into higher institutions involves several stages and requirements, with UTME scores forming only one part of a broader admission process that also considers institutional criteria and other academic qualifications.
The registrar expressed concern that excessive public attention given to the UTME has created the impression that success in the examination automatically guarantees admission into a university, polytechnic, or college of education.
He stressed that tertiary institutions ultimately make admission decisions based on multiple factors within the framework coordinated by JAMB.
Oloyede described JAMB as a central clearing house established to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency in Nigeria's tertiary admission system.
He explained that the board processes millions of applications annually and works with higher institutions to match qualified candidates with available admission spaces according to approved guidelines.
His remarks come at a time when conversations about JAMB's role have intensified following the 2026 UTME exercise and ahead of the end of his tenure as Registrar.
Education stakeholders have increasingly debated the board's future responsibilities, the structure of Nigeria's admission system, and possible reforms to improve transparency and efficiency.
Since assuming office in 2016, Oloyede has overseen major reforms aimed at strengthening the integrity of the admission process through increased use of technology, tighter monitoring of Computer-Based Test centres, improved financial accountability, and enhanced transparency in candidate placement.
His tenure is scheduled to end on July 31, 2026, after completing two terms in office.
Education experts say public understanding of JAMB's actual mandate is important because it helps candidates and parents appreciate that admission into tertiary institutions extends beyond obtaining a high UTME score.
Universities, polytechnics, and colleges also apply additional admission requirements such as post-UTME screenings, O'Level qualifications, subject combinations, and approved cut-off marks.
Oloyede maintained that JAMB will continue to focus on its statutory responsibility of coordinating admissions while ensuring fairness for all applicants.
He urged Nigerians to distinguish between the board's assessment role and the responsibilities of examination bodies, saying clearer public understanding would reduce misconceptions surrounding the annual UTME exercise.
With a new JAMB Registrar expected to assume office after Oloyede's tenure expires, many stakeholders believe his clarification serves as an important reminder of the board's core purpose.
As Nigeria continues to reform its education sector, the distinction between conducting examinations and managing admissions is expected to remain central to discussions on improving access to tertiary education.