The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina, has explained why the Board plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada.
Aina said the decision was primarily aimed at expanding access to education for Nigerians living outside the country, rather than generating revenue for JAMB.
The Registrar made this known in a post on X on Tuesday while responding to questions surrounding the proposed examination centre, which is expected to commence operations from the 2027 UTME.
According to him, the Ottawa centre will enable Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to sit the UTME and seek admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions without having to travel to Nigeria for the examination.
Aina explained that JAMB already conducts the UTME in about 10 countries as part of efforts to improve access to the Nigerian higher education system.
He said the number of candidates in a particular country was not the primary consideration for establishing an examination centre there.
“UTME is currently being written in about 10 countries as a service to enhance access to education. We also conduct the exams in correctional service centres for the same reason. So the number of candidates is not the main driving force,” Aina said.
JAMB had announced plans on Monday to establish the UTME centre in Ottawa from 2027.
The proposed centre is expected to provide Nigerians in Canada and neighbouring parts of North America with easier access to the examination as they seek admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions.
Aina’s explanation comes amid public discussions over the rationale for establishing the centre, particularly questions about the number of prospective candidates and the cost implications.
The JAMB Registrar, however, maintained that the Board’s decision was driven by its broader mandate to facilitate access to tertiary education for eligible Nigerians, regardless of their location.
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