The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a strong warning to newly established, upgraded, and adopted tertiary institutions, cautioning them against engaging in illegal admissions. The board stressed that such actions will not be regularised.
Speaking during an interactive session with principal officers of affected institutions in Abuja on Monday, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated that all admissions must be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and must follow the approved guidelines.
“CAPS ensures transparency, fairness, and integrity in admissions. Any attempt to bypass the system will render such admissions null and void,” Oloyede warned.
He emphasized the need for total compliance from over 80 new institutions recently approved by the Federal Government. These include 22 new universities, 33 new polytechnics and mono-technics, and 12 new colleges of education established between late 2024 and 2025.
Oloyede explained that CAPS, introduced in 2017, and the Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS), launched in 2018, have now been upgraded with institutional email services. These platforms, he noted, are JAMB’s exclusive channels for official communication.
He reiterated that only programs approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) will be activated on CAPS.
To manage access to CAPS and IBASS, institutions are expected to designate official representatives, with JAMB promising full technical support for a smooth onboarding process. However, Oloyede made it clear: “Compliance is non-negotiable. No shortcuts will be tolerated.”
A live demonstration of the CAPS and IBASS systems was conducted during the session to guide the institutions.
Prof. William Qurix, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, expressed appreciation for the meeting, noting that it clarified the operational procedures of CAPS and IBASS, especially for newly approved institutions that might struggle to attract candidates.
He said, “This process has enlightened us. JAMB has assured us of swift responses to inquiries through the platforms. It will make a great impact.”
Dr. Uche Uba, Director of Colleges at the Ministry of Education, advised colleges of education to upgrade to dual-mode operations and meet with NUC officials to understand the requirements.
“Only seven out of 15 institutions previously invited met with the NUC. This step is essential as resource verification must be conducted,” she said.
Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the NCCE, commended JAMB for introducing innovative technologies that streamline the admission process from application to enrolment.
He urged newly approved colleges of education to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures to maintain competitiveness.
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