GistNexus – April 15, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended for his giant stride in opening up Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape with the approval of 67 new higher institutions in Nigeria. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, identified the President’s move as a positive one while addressing an interactive session in Abuja on Monday, April 14, 2025, with principal officers of newly approved and upgraded institutions.
Between late 2024 and early 2025, President Tinubu approved into law the creation of 22 new universities, 33 polytechnics and monotechnics, and 12 colleges of education. This new expansion, according to Prof. Oloyede, is a signal of the federal government’s commitment to widening access to quality higher education for the youths of Nigeria.
JAMB Registrar Warns on Illegal Admissions
Even while he was singing their praises, Prof. Oloyede did not spare the newly accredited institutions from being cautioned against illegal admissions. He emphasized that all admissions must be done through JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and proceed exactly in accordance with prescribed procedures.
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“Back-door regularisation will not be given space. CAPS calls for transparency, fairness, and integrity in the admission process. Any institution that attempts to circumvent this platform will have such admissions invalidated,” said Oloyede.
Forced Use of CAPS and IBASS Platforms
In addition to CAPS, Oloyede reinforced the forced use of the Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS) that enhances communication and authenticates correct eligibility verification for academic programs.
Both CAPS and IBASS, which were introduced in 2017 and 2018 respectively, are now institutional mail services enhanced and the only official communication platforms between JAMB and tertiary institutions.
“Compliance with CAPS and IBASS is non-negotiable. Institutions should nominate dedicated officers to handle their platforms efficiently. JAMB will offer technical support where necessary, but any cut corners are unacceptable,” the Registrar said.
Only Approved Programmes Will Be Activated
Prof. Oloyede said that only those programs approved by relevant regulatory bodies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) would be enabled on the JAMB platforms.
“No institution is permitted to admit students into programmes that are yet to be appropriately approved. Any attempt at circumventing this would be greeted with severe sanctions,” he clarified.
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Live Demonstration for New Institutions
For the purposes of guiding the newly established institutions on how to use the platforms, the meeting included a live demonstration of the CAPS and IBASS systems. The JAMB officials gave practical guidance to ensure the institutions mastered the functionalities of the platforms.
Oloyede also directed all 80+ institutions that were newly accredited by the Federal Government—to those that were upgraded and newly established—to comply in full with standardized admission procedures. He bluntly warned that non-compliance would not be tolerated under any circumstance.
Institutions Respond Positively
The session was positively received by stakeholders. Prof. William Qurix, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, commended the initiative, describing the interaction as timely and informative.
“Today’s meeting has cleared the fears and operational challenges we initially faced, especially with institutions that were accredited after students had registered for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). JAMB’s assurance of timely intervention through CAPS and IBASS will have a lasting impact,” Qurix stated.
Federal Ministry of Education Weighs In
The Director of Colleges at the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Uche Uba, also made input during the session. She discussed the newly upgraded colleges of education, especially those operating a dual-mode system offering degree and NCE programmes.
“Only seven of the 15 newly upgraded colleges reported to the NUC, which is alarming. For those now operating on their own, NUC’s verification of resources is mandatory. You must meet the NUC requirement,” Uba stressed.
NCCE Praises JAMB’s Technological Advancements
Also present at the ceremony was the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Okwelle. He commended JAMB’s creative use of technology in streamlining the admission process from application to enrollment.
“Online platforms by JAMB have greatly enhanced the quality of admission processes in Nigeria. I implore the newly accredited colleges of education—especially those with degree and NCE programmes—to follow guidelines laid out and respect all protocols needed,” Okwelle added.
Why CAPS and IBASS Matter
The Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) was introduced in 2017 by JAMB as a game-changer to eliminate manipulation in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process. CAPS permits only qualified candidates to be admitted on the merit and clearly defined institutional quotas. It provides equal opportunity to candidates and ensures transparency and fairness.
Equally, IBASS, introduced in 2018, streamlines course eligibility checking and academic programme management. It is an important tool for institutions to be compliant with national education standards and to keep brochures and syllabuses up to date.
The two platforms, in JAMB’s claim, have significantly promoted operating efficiency and accountability in admissions processing. Being part of the institutional framework is one aspect of a multi-dimensional strategy to overhaul the Nigerian educational system to level international competitiveness.
A Call for Institutional Discipline and Integrity
In conclusion, Prof. Oloyede was emphatic in his statement that the role played by institutions towards national development can’t be bartered for shortcuts and backdoor strategies. Prof. Oloyede stated categorically that discipline, transparency, and adherence to established procedures were what Nigeria required if it would ever achieve its vision in education.
“Tinubu’s government expansion of tertiary education is a golden chance. But it must be accompanied by commitment and integrity on the part of the institutions themselves. JAMB is willing to collaborate with this process, but compliance must be total,” Oloyede said.
The interactive session is a turning point for Nigeria’s education sector, especially in the face of recent proliferation of institutions. While stakeholders continue to struggle to interpret the meaning of 67 new higher institutions, there is one certainty: unapproved admissions are not to be accepted and only programmes approved by the regulator shall be valid.
GistNexus will keep track of events as these institutions open and as JAMB insists on strict compliance with its directives.
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Reported by GistNexus Team and Edited by Mr. Chibueze Onwuka