By Chioma Vivian James
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed renowned computer engineering scholar, Segun Aina, as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, succeeding long-serving registrar Is-haq Oloyede whose second and final tenure expires on July 31, 2026.
The appointment, announced on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, signals what observers describe as a strategic shift toward deeper digital transformation and institutional modernisation within Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system.
Professor Aina, who turns 40 in July, becomes the youngest registrar in the history of JAMB, one of Nigeria’s most critical educational institutions responsible for coordinating admissions into tertiary institutions across the country.
A distinguished academic and systems expert, Aina brings a strong blend of technological expertise, policy experience, and institutional reform credentials to the role. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent before proceeding to Loughborough University, where he obtained both a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing. He also completed the prestigious Senior Management Programme at the Lagos Business School.
Currently a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Aina rose rapidly within academia and became one of Nigeria’s youngest professors of Computer Engineering at the age of 39.
His relationship with JAMB dates back to his National Youth Service year, where he first gained exposure to the operations of the examination body and the mechanics of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process. According to presidency sources, that early experience played a defining role in shaping his long-term interest in examination systems, digital governance, and educational process optimisation.
Over the past 15 years, Aina has built a reputation as a leading consultant in digital infrastructure and institutional reform, advising both federal and state governments on technology-driven transformation projects. He has also consulted for major examination agencies including the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), particularly in areas related to examination integrity, ICT deployment, and operational efficiency.
Industry stakeholders say his appointment comes at a pivotal moment for JAMB, as the agency continues expanding its use of digital technologies in examination administration, candidate verification, admissions processing, and anti-malpractice systems.
Aina is also affiliated with several professional and regulatory bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
In the statement announcing the appointment, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Aina’s ability to consolidate and surpass the reforms implemented under Oloyede’s administration.
“The President expects Professor Aina to bring to bear his vast experience, knowledge and practical insight into the operations of the Board, to take the critical educational organisation beyond the laudable heights achieved by his predecessor,” the statement read.
Professor Oloyede, who has led JAMB since 2016, is widely credited with introducing sweeping reforms that improved transparency, increased revenue remittances, strengthened examination security, and enhanced public confidence in the board’s operations.
Education analysts believe Aina’s emergence may usher in a new era of AI-driven admissions processing, stronger cybersecurity systems, expanded digital examination frameworks, and deeper data integration across Nigeria’s tertiary education ecosystem.
His appointment is expected to officially take effect on August 1, 2026.
