President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), marking a significant generational shift in the leadership of Nigeria’s foremost tertiary admissions body.
Professor Aina, a renowned computer engineering scholar and systems expert, will succeed outgoing Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose second and final tenure is scheduled to end on July 31, 2026.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
At 39, and set to turn 40 in July, Professor Aina becomes the youngest individual ever appointed to lead JAMB, a development many observers have described as a bold move by the Tinubu administration to inject youthful innovation and advanced technological expertise into the nation’s education and examination system.
A distinguished academic, Professor Aina is currently a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, as well as a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University. He also attended the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.
According to the Presidency, Professor Aina possesses extensive expertise in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, institutional reform, and ICT-driven governance.
His career trajectory reportedly began with JAMB during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, where he gained firsthand experience in admissions administration and data-driven institutional processes.
Over the past 15 years, he has built a reputation as a leading voice in technology-driven public sector transformation, advising both federal and state governments on digital transition, systems optimisation, and operational reforms.
Professor Aina has also consulted for major examination bodies, including the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), particularly in areas relating to examination integrity, ICT systems, and digital process management.
He 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).
The Presidency noted that President Tinubu expects the incoming registrar to leverage his extensive knowledge and practical experience to consolidate on the reforms and achievements recorded under Professor Oloyede’s administration, while further modernising JAMB’s operations through technology and innovation.
The appointment has already generated widespread reactions across the education and technology sectors, with many describing it as a strategic decision aimed at strengthening transparency, efficiency and digital transformation within Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system.
