The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, has explained why the board plans to open a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Canada.
Daily Sun earlier reported that JAMB planned to set up a UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada. The centre would let Nigerians in Canada and other parts of North America sit the exam without travelling to Nigeria.
Aina said the plan is mainly to expand access to education, not to make money for the examination body. He shared this in a series of posts on X on Tuesday. He was answering questions and concerns about the planned centre, which should start work for the 2027 UTME.
According to Aina, JAMB currently runs the UTME in about 10 foreign countries. The board does this to make the exam easy for eligible candidates outside Nigeria.
“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,” he wrote.
He explained that JAMB has centres in several African countries. However, there was no centre in North America before the proposed Ottawa facility.
Aina said Nigerians move abroad for different reasons. Also, children of Nigerian public servants posted overseas may need access to the UTME.
“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,” he said.
No Money Spent Yet On Canada Centre
The registrar dismissed concerns about the cost of setting up and running a centre in Canada. He said JAMB would work with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa. The board already does this with Nigerian diplomatic missions in other countries where the UTME holds.
“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,” Aina stated.
He also said the board had not spent any money on the proposed Canadian centre. The talks began after his visit to Canada for a conference.
“Not a single kobo has gone into this exploration so far — I was in Canada for a conference and used the opportunity to make the connection,” he wrote.
Aina said JAMB would not build a permanent facility in Ottawa. The exam will instead hold inside the Nigerian High Commission’s premises to keep costs down.
Demand For The Centre
Aina also answered questions about demand for the proposed centre. He argued that the lack of past candidates from North America cannot be used to judge demand. This is because JAMB had no examination facility in the region.
“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,” Aina said.
JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin also defended the plan. He said the board had already received signs of interest from more than 100 prospective candidates in Canada.
“How will you feel if you know that over 100 candidates have already indicated their interest to sit the exam in Canada? Let us promote the nation, please,” Benjamin wrote.
He added that JAMB would keep supporting efforts to promote Nigerian universities. The board wants to make it easier for eligible candidates, including those living abroad, to get admission opportunities.
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