Governor Babagana Zulum has laid the foundation stone for a N1 billion zonal office and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Speaking at the ceremony on Monday, Zulum described the project as the state government’s contribution to strengthening education service delivery in the North-East region.
“The N1 billion JAMB zonal office and CBT centre projects are the modest contribution of the state government towards national education service delivery in the Northeast,” he said.
He noted that when completed, the facility would serve as a regional hub for candidates sitting for entrance examinations into higher institutions across the country.
Beyond upgrading the existing zonal JAMB complex, the governor stressed the need to provide additional computerised centres to improve access for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
“We need to provide more computerised centres to give our candidates the necessary access to write examinations that qualify them for entry to institutions of higher learning,” Zulum added.
He expressed confidence that the new complex would be a game-changer for education in the state, significantly reducing logistical challenges and improving the efficiency of examination processes.
In his remarks, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, commended the governor’s educational initiatives, noting that the efforts have been recognised by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
Oloyede revealed that the twin project would feature a high-capacity hub comparable to some of the most advanced CBT centres in the country.
“This building will be a multi-centre CBT facility, comparable to what we have in Kano,” he said.
He described the project as a demonstration of leadership capable of transforming education service delivery nationwide, adding that the N1 billion investment aligns with JAMB’s transition toward a fully digitalised examination system.
The registrar emphasised the urgent need to expand computerised infrastructure to ensure that students in Borno and other North-East states are not disadvantaged in accessing tertiary education opportunities.
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