By IDEA Television News Desk | May 21, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), marking a historic leadership transition at one of Nigeria’s most critical educational institutions.
The appointment was announced on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, via an official State House press release.
A Historic Appointment
At 39 years old, Professor Aina will become the youngest person ever to lead JAMB in the board’s history. He turns 40 in July, and is expected to formally assume office on August 1, 2026 — the day after his predecessor’s tenure ends.
He succeeds Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose two-term tenure expires on July 31, 2026.
Who is Professor Segun Aina?
Professor Aina is a professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he is also recognized as one of Nigeria’s youngest professors in his discipline.
His academic credentials are firmly rooted in technology and digital systems. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security, and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing, both from Loughborough University, United Kingdom. He has also completed the Senior Management Programmed at Lagos Business School.
His connection to JAMB is not new. Aina’s relationship with JAMB began during his National Youth Service Corps programme, where he gained early experience in national admissions processes and data management systems — exposure that reportedly influenced his later work in examination reforms and systems optimization.
He had previously worked as a consultant to examination bodies including the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) on ICT systems and examination integrity.
Professor Aina is a member of several professional bodies, 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).
Tinubu’s Expectations
In the official statement, President Tinubu expressed full confidence in the incoming registrar, urging him to build on the foundations laid by his predecessor. The President called on Professor Aina to bring his vast experience in technology, policy, and institutional transformation to bear in steering JAMB into its next chapter of digital reform.
The End of an Era — Oloyede’s Legacy
Professor Is-haq Oloyede was first appointed JAMB Registrar on August 9, 2016, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, and was reappointed for a second term in August 2021. Over his decade-long tenure, Oloyede is widely credited with transforming JAMB into a more transparent, technology-driven institution — most notably through the introduction of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and a dramatic reduction in financial leakages within the board.
What This Means for Nigerian Students
Professor Aina’s appointment signals a deliberate government decision to bring a technology-first approach to Nigeria’s university admissions process. His background in digital infrastructure and examination systems reform suggests that JAMB’s next phase will likely focus on deepening digital transformation, improving system reliability, and strengthening examination integrity — all areas that directly affect millions of Nigerian students every year.
Professor Segun Aina is expected to assume duties as JAMB Registrar on August 1, 2026.
