- Photo: Prof Oloyede *
Preamble
It was a special rendezvous of who is who, in Nigerian media, last Saturday. A galaxy of veterans and neophytes were assembled in a notable Conference Hall, at Isaac Jones area, in Ikeja, Lagos State. The relevant question about that gathering was not who and who were there among the topmost Nigerian journalists but who was not there.
As a veteran, yours sincerely was conspicuously present there. That professionally distinguished rendezvous was at the instance of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). And, the purpose was for that Board to brief the topmost echelon of Nigerian media as a way of updating the Nigerian populace about the happenings in JAMB.
Last Saturday was not the first time of such a rendezvous. It has become a yearly affair since JAMB considered it necessary, some years ago, to recognize the media as a major stakeholder in sanitizing the modalities of its operations and in lifting the credibility of Nigeria’s education standard to a befitting height, in the comity of nations.
Essence of Partnership
As a matter of an undeniable reality, vis-a-vis the hitherto deplorable situation of JAMB, the management of that examination body decided, sometime ago, to take the media as a partner in progress, for the purpose of operating an open door policy which could clear the hitherto clumsy atmosphere that was beclouding people’s perception of JAMB’s operations.
Thus, with the involvement of the media, it has glaringly become clear that any admixture of the wheat and the chaff in Nigeria’s education sector, especially at the tertiary level, is an intolerable aberration. And, that has helped tremendously in getting the public adequately informed about the occurrences in JAMB regarding every how and why of any what.
Without the involvement of the media, perhaps the thick cloud of ignorance which used to hover incessantly in Nigeria’s education sky would have remained an implacable sphinx. Thus, to clear that clumsy atmosphere, for thorough understanding by the populace, the role of the media has proved to be a sine qua non.
The Briefing
As the most dynamic and most revolutionary agency within Nigeria’s ministry of education, JAMB saw the need to dish out guiding information to the people from time to time, about the modalities of its operations, through the media. And, that has become one of its tacit policies in recent times. During last Saturday’s briefing, some vital disclosures which had been contained in the weekly bulletin of JAMB (Jambulletin) were made as follows:
The 2022/23 JAMB form will be out for sale from February 12, 2022 and close on March 19, 2022 while the list of the accredited registration Centers as well as their locations will be found online through the following link: jamb.org.ng Also available online is the general information on how to purchase and fill the form.
The 2022 UTME examination will be held between May 6, 2022 and May 26, 2022.Two new subjects have just been added to UTME subjects for JAMB candidates who are interested in them. Such candidates are to register and write examination in any of those subjects during the coming UTME examination. One of the subjects is COMPUTER STUDIES while the other is PHYSICAL and HEALTH EDUCATION.
On the advice and recommendation of JAMB, the Federal Government has reduced the cost of JAMB form to N3500 for prospective candidates.The Mock-UTME which was earlier scheduled for April 2, 2022 has now been rescheduled to take place on April 16, 2022 for candidates who registered for it.
All candidates are strictly advised to read JAMB guidelines fully before they start filling the form in order to avoid unnecessary mistakes that may prevent them from writing the exam.
Process of Registration
The names of the banks to be used for payment of the cost of form can be found in JAMB’s guidelines online.
Besides, registration forms will also be available at all NIPOST offices nationwide.After getting e-PIN, candidates can start registration at any JAMB accredited CBT where representatives of the mentioned banks will be met for any required guidance. The JAMB’s website which can be accessed with authenticated registration Scratch Card is as follows:www.jamb.org.ng
Expected Documents
The documents that JAMB candidates are expected to collect after registration and before leaving the Registration Centers are as follows: E-brochure showing guidelines on admission and detailed list of tertiary institutions and programs of studies
E-syllabus for the examinations Step by step guideline on completion of the application form. A video message from the JAMB Registrar and a ‘demo’ on how to use eight (8) keys for UTME examination without mouse.
JAMB’s Efforts
It should be noted here that the efforts now being vigorously made by JAMB to ensure standardization of tertiary education in Nigeria were about the same as those made by the United States of America when the Scholarship Aptitude Test (SAT) was established in that country, in 1926. Also, in 1962, when the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) was established in the USA, the same efforts were made to ensure standardization of tertiary education in America.
Today, if the US education standard is globally perceived and acknowledged as very high, it is those efforts that were responsible. JAMB is just 44 years old this year. If an indefatigable Registrar like Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede had not been so passionate about those efforts to standardize Nigerian education, one can imagine what would have become of JAMB, and even the Nigerian tertiary institutions, by the time this examination Board attains the age of 50 years.
Reminder
It was because of the above observation that yours sincerely wrote and published an article titled ‘JAMB’s Vision for Nigeria’s Future’ in this same column late last year (2021). An excerpt from that article is as follows:
Evidence of Education
“As an African country that became independent in less than three decades ago, South Africa now has various economic investments in Nigeria into which she employed some Nigerians as workers. Those investments cut across areas like commerce, agriculture, technology and banking.
It is a testimony to the application of practical education in a theoretical economic desert where ordinary literacy has no chance of holding sway. Now, apart from serving as a mere market for the products of other countries, what can Nigeria claim to be her products that can be be marketed in those other countries?
If a vertical man of letters and undeniable intellect like Professor Oloyede can use education to champion the eradication of corruption at the JAMB level who does not know that a reliable future of this country can be guaranteed with education if well encouraged?
Conclusion
As of today, the role of mere literacy has not moved Nigeria forward beyond the level of obtaining certificates that can only serve as meal tickets. Thus, in Nigeria’s education sector there is no indication that obtaining certificate alone can assist education to play a significant role in the country’s future progress. It is, therefore, necessary that all hands should be on deck to ensure that the future of our country should serve as the desired destination of succour for all Nigerians.
Professor Oloyede’s passionate efforts to ensure standardization of education in this Africa’s foremost country must not be in vain.
JAMB’s Litigation Saga
In another development, a news story has gone viral that JAMB is involved in a court case. The fact of the matter is that JAMB’s Head of Media and Public Relation, Dr. Fabian Benjamin charged one Mallam Ahmed Isah of an Abuja based Human Rights Radio Station to court for alleged defamation of character.
Dr. Benjamin is asking for N6 billion as the cost of the damage done to his image and reputation in an open air programme handled by the defendant. Joined in that case, as co-defendant, is Premier Broadcasting Ltd of Plot 1184 in Kaura District, near Games Village, Abuja. The latter is believed to be the owner of the Radio Staion in which Ahmed Isah’s programme is run.
Now that the matter has become a court case, there is a limit to which media comments or analysis can be publicly presented on it. But, given the fact that the case involves a management staff of JAMB, especially in relation to his official duty, it has become a part of JAMB panorama. Further developments on this case will be monitored and reported as we surge ahead.
