Prospective applicants for admission into Nigerian higher institutions may have something to cheer as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, has pledged to reduce the trauma associated with the tertiary admission process across the country.

Aina, who presented his strategic blueprint titled, “JAMB 2031: Building Trust, Reducing Trauma,” shortly after assuming office yesterday in Abuja, unveiled an ambitious five-year reforms agenda designed to make the admission process more transparent, technology-driven and candidate-friendly.

He disclosed that his administration would focus on simplifying admission processes, improving communication with candidates and deploying cutting-edge technology to eliminate bottlenecks that have long frustrated applicants and their families.

To that end, he disclosed that JAMB would also introduce a unified mobile application, establish a centralised customer service platform and implement a fully paperless enterprise-wide administration system to make its services faster, more accessible and less stressful for candidates and other stakeholders.

According to Aina, the agenda is built around Project 2:5:7, which means two strategic objectives, five enduring pillars and seven flagship initiatives – aimed at strengthening institutional integrity, enhancing service delivery and restoring public confidence in the admissions process.

“Every registration represents the aspirations of a young Nigerian and the sacrifices of parents and guardians,” he said, assuring candidates that fairness, transparency and integrity would remain the board’s guiding principles.

The registrar also announced plans for an independent review of JAMB’s technology infrastructure, the attainment of ISO 27001 Information Security Certification, strategic communication and brand repositioning, as well as enhanced staff welfare and capacity development.

Describing his appointment as “homecoming and a solemn responsibility,” the registrar said the 2026-2031 development plan would consolidate the reforms introduced by his predecessor, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, while positioning JAMB as Africa’s most trusted, innovative and accessible assessment and admissions institution.

He stated that the reform programme would rest on five strategic pillars: Integrity, Service, Governance, Technology and Partnerships.

According to him, the integrity pillar will strengthen public trust through internationally recognised standards, independent technology audits and transparent systems, while the service pillar will focus on responsive customer service, clearer communication and better engagement with candidates, parents and tertiary institutions.

Under the governance pillar, the board intends to improve performance monitoring, contract management and institutional accountability, while technology will drive expanded digital platforms, artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.

He added that the partnerships pillar would deepen collaboration with financial institutions, fintech companies, educational organisations and international partners to expand innovation and improve service delivery.