A Short History of JAMB, from 1978 to the 2026 UTME
How the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board began in 1978, how the UME became the UTME, when computer-based testing arrived and who has led the board.
ExamPadi Editorial · Updated · 7 min read
Every year, millions of Nigerians sit the UTME, and most of them have never wondered how it started. The story of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is short enough to tell in one sitting, and it explains why admissions work the way they do today.
Before JAMB
Before 1978, universities in Nigeria ran their own admission processes independently. JAMB was set up to standardise university admissions, so that one national examination and one placement process could serve the whole country.
1978: the founding
According to JAMB's own website, the board was established under an Act (No. 2 of 1978), promulgated by the Federal Military Government and dated 13 February 1978. That law was later amended and codified into Decree No. 33 of 1989, which took effect on 7 December 1989.
The first examination was the University Matriculation Examination (UME), held in 1978. Wikipedia names Michael Saidu Angulu as the pioneer Registrar, serving from 1978 until 1986.
What JAMB is legally for
JAMB's board-history page says the amendments to the founding law were codified in Decree No. 33 of 1989. A JAMB support page, as summarised in search results we could not open in full, describes that law as empowering the board to conduct the matriculation examination for entry into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. We have not read the text of the law itself, so check JAMB's site for its exact mandate.
From UME to UTME
The UME catered only to university entry. According to Legit.ng's account, the UME was held for the last time on 4 April 2009. In 2010 it was merged with the Monotechnics, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Examination (MPCE) to form the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the UTME. The idea was one exam that could open the door to any higher institution.
Today's UTME has a simple structure. Candidates register for four subjects, with Use of English compulsory and the other three tied to the intended course. Scores are reported out of 400.
The move to computer-based testing
The switch from paper to computers was gradual, and sources differ on the exact year.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Legit.ng | In 2013, then-Registrar Dibu Ojerinde introduced a computer-based test to curb malpractice. In 2014 JAMB practised with about 617 candidates. In 2015 CBT was fully integrated across centres in the states. |
| Wikipedia | The exam was paper-and-pencil until 17 May 2014, when it became computer-based. |
The safest summary is that CBT was introduced between 2013 and 2014 and became the standard by 2015. Whichever date you prefer, the early years had technical glitches, poor internet connectivity and uneven computer literacy, especially in rural areas, according to Legit.ng. JAMB later responded with infrastructure upgrades, more accredited centres and mock exams.
The scale of the system is now very different. Wikipedia reports about 793 CBT centres in March 2024, and in 2026 JAMB said it had created 1,000 centres, up from fewer than 800 in 2025.
Milestones at a glance
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1978 | JAMB established; first UME held |
| 1989 | Act amended and codified as Decree No. 33, effective 7 December |
| 2009 | UME held for the last time (4 April) |
| 2010 | UME and MPCE merged to form the UTME |
| 2013 to 2015 | Move from paper to computer-based testing |
| 2016 | Prof. Is-haq Oloyede appointed Registrar (August, per Wikipedia) |
| 2022 | Nearly 1.8 million candidates registered for the UTME, a record at the time |
| 2024 | Minimum cut-off lowered to 140 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education |
| 2026 | 2,243,816 candidates completed UTME registration; the board retained a 150 floor for universities |
| 31 July 2026 | New Registrar tenure begins: Prof. Segun Aina |
The 2022 and 2024 rows come from Wikipedia's account, and the 2026 registration figure comes from a JAMB bulletin reported by Nairametrics. See JAMB 2026 in numbers for more.
Leadership
Wikipedia lists Prof. Segun Aina as Registrar, with a new tenure beginning on 31 July 2026, the day Prof. Is-haq Oloyede's tenure ended. Oloyede had been appointed in August 2016. JAMB's own site carried a headline about a new Registrar when we looked, but we could not confirm further details from it.
Why the history matters to you
Three things from this history are useful for today's candidate:
- The exam is standardised on purpose. The UTME exists so that your score means the same thing in every part of the country. It is why shortcuts and "runs" are pointless: they cannot change a score that is produced by a standard national computer-based test.
- Admission is a placement process, not just an exam. Your choice of institution and course matters as much as your score.
- Rules change. Cut-off marks, centres, fees and dates have all moved over the years. Always read the current notice at jamb.gov.ng instead of relying on what worked for an older sibling.
Looking ahead
The next chapter is the 2027 UTME, which the Federal Government has proposed for 15 to 25 March 2027. That date is provisional. Our JAMB 2027 UTME date and timetable guide tracks it, and a short history of WAEC tells the story of the other big exam body in your life.
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Practise JAMB questions freeFrequently asked questions
When was JAMB established?
1978. JAMB's website says it was set up under an Act (No. 2 of 1978), dated 13 February 1978, which was later amended and codified as Decree No. 33 of 1989.
What was the UME?
The University Matriculation Examination, first held in 1978. It was last held in April 2009 and merged in 2010 with the exam for polytechnics and colleges of education to form the UTME.
When did JAMB go computer-based?
Sources differ. One account has a computer-based test introduced in 2013, piloted in 2014 and fully integrated in 2015. Wikipedia gives 17 May 2014 as the date the exam became computer-based.
Who leads JAMB now?
JAMB's website lists Prof. Segun Aina as the sixth Registrar and Chief Executive. Wikipedia lists his tenure as beginning on 31 July 2026, when Prof. Is-haq Oloyede's ended.