President Bola Tinubu has appointed 39-year-old Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), succeeding Professor Ishaq Oloyede, whose second and final term expires on July 31, 2026. The appointment, announced today by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, makes Professor Aina the youngest person to ever lead Nigeria’s premier examination body.
A Distinguished Academic and Technology Expert
Professor Aina, a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, is described as “a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, and public-sector institutional reform.
The new JAMB Registrar holds impressive academic credentials, including:
- Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, UK
- MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security from Loughborough University, UK
- PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University, UK
- Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School
Full Circle Career Journey
In an interesting career twist, Professor Aina’s relationship with JAMB dates back to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days when he first worked with the board, gaining foundational experience in national admissions and data-driven institutional processes. According to the presidency, “These insights have shaped his ongoing contributions to examination reform and systems optimisation.”
Full Circle Career Journey
In an interesting career twist, Professor Aina’s relationship with JAMB dates back to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days when he first worked with the board, gaining foundational experience in national admissions and data-driven institutional processes.
With over 15 years of post-graduation experience, Professor Aina has operated at the intersection of technology, policy, and institutional transformation, advising both federal and state governments on system design, digital transition, and operational reform.
Beyond his academic work, the new JAMB Registrar has served as a consultant to major examination bodies, including:
- National Examinations Council (NECO)
- National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)
- Various State Ministries of Education
His expertise spans ICT systems, examination integrity, and digital process optimisation.
Following in Oloyede’s Footsteps
Professor Aina will be taking over from Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who has led JAMB with distinction for two terms. The 70-year-old Arabic and Islamic Studies professor has been credited with bringing unprecedented technological reforms to the board, including the digitisation of examination processes and the remittance of over N30 billion to the Federal Government during his tenure.
What This Means for JAMB
The appointment of a technology expert like Professor Aina signals the government’s commitment to further digitising and securing Nigeria’s tertiary education admission process. This comes at a critical time when JAMB has been battling AI-driven fraud syndicates attempting to sabotage the 2026 UTME registration process. As Professor Aina prepares to assume office after July 31, 2026, the education sector will be watching closely to see how the youngest JAMB Registrar in history will leverage technology to address the board’s ongoing challenges while building on the reforms of his predecessor.
