Public scrutiny over the decision of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to expand into North America has prompted official clarification, with authorities insisting the new Ottawa centre is intended to enhance access to education rather than yield revenue.
Following online enquiries regarding the planned 2027 rollout in Canada, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, clarified through posts on X that no funds had been expended on the initiative, noting that preliminary arrangements were made during a recent conference trip. He countered doubts over demand by pointing out that the absence of a centre naturally meant candidate figures could not previously exist.
“There couldn’t have been any candidates in North America since we didn’t have any centres there, sir. You are making our point whilst seeming to argue against it,” Prof. Aina stated.
The board plans to leverage existing diplomatic infrastructure to keep operational costs low, avoiding property acquisition or direct staff recruitment. Instead, tests will be conducted within the Nigerian High Commission using local mission personnel.
“We partner with the Nigerian High Commissions in the various countries. We set up temporary spaces within their premises and use their staff to assist us run the exams,” Prof. Aina explained.
The Ottawa facility will mark JAMB’s maiden footprint in North America, complementing existing overseas centres operating across approximately 10 countries and domestic correctional facilities. The registrar said that financial viability is not the criteria for these setups, which primarily serve returning diaspora families and children of diplomats stationed abroad.
Aina wrote: “Anyone of the 100s of people who move back yearly for one reason or the other, including the children of many service personnel with tenured postings all around the world.”
JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin urged critics to seek proper information, adding that over 100 prospective applicants have already shown interest in sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Canada. He maintained that the board will persist in making Nigerian tertiary education accessible to international candidates despite pushback.