The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Segun Aina, has explained the decision to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centre in Canada, saying the move is aimed at expanding access to education rather than generating revenue.

Aina said the proposed centre in Ottawa would serve Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America who wish to sit the examination for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The registrar gave the explanation in a series of posts on X on Tuesday, following public questions about the planned centre, which is expected to begin operations for the 2027 UTME.

He said JAMB currently conducts the examination in about 10 foreign countries as a service to candidates, adding that the number of applicants was not the primary consideration for establishing such centres.

“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,” Aina wrote.

He noted that although JAMB had multiple examination centres across Africa, there was none in North America before the planned Ottawa centre.

According to him, the board had received enquiries from prospective candidates and expected more interest following the announcement.

Asked who would use the centre, Aina said Nigerians relocated abroad for various reasons each year, including the children of Nigerian public servants posted overseas.

“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.

Aina also dismissed concerns that the board would need to acquire or rent a building and employ additional personnel to operate the centre.

He explained that JAMB works with Nigerian diplomatic missions in countries where it conducts the UTME, using temporary spaces within high commission premises and the assistance of their staff.

“We partner with the Nigerian High Commissions in various countries. We set up temporary spaces within their premises and use their staff to assist us run the exams,” he said.

The registrar further said no money had been spent on the proposed Canadian centre, explaining that the arrangement was initiated during a 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 in another post.

He added that the board did not maintain permanent facilities or computer-based test centres in Ottawa, saying the examination would be conducted within the Nigerian High Commission’s premises to keep costs low.

Aina said the board’s foreign examination centres were not established primarily on the basis of financial viability but to make access to Nigerian tertiary education easier for eligible candidates.

In a separate post, he argued that the absence of a centre in North America had meant there could not previously have been candidates sitting the UTME there.

“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,” he wrote in response to a question about demand.

JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, also defended the decision, urging critics to seek clarification before questioning the board’s plans.

Benjamin said the board had received indications of interest from more than 100 candidates who wished to sit the examination 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,” he wrote.

He added that the board would continue working to promote Nigerian universities by facilitating admissions for international students, despite criticism of its efforts.

JAMB announced plans to establish a UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada, where Nigerians living in the country and other parts of North America would be able to sit the examination from 2027.

The board disclosed the plan following a visit by Aina to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, saying the centre would provide eligible candidates with easier access to the examination.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

A Professor of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Strategy at the Federal University, Lokoja, John Alabi has called for more investment in the entrepreneurship/innovation sector to tackle Nigeria’s dwindling economy.

Professor Alabi who made the call while delivering the 46th Inaugural Lecture series of the University at its Felele Campus in Lokoja,on Wednesday, also stressed the need for government at all levels to prioritize investment in the sector to take care of the rising unemployment situation in Nigeria.

In his Lecture titled “Entrepreneurship Leadership through Entrepreneurial Education and Empowerment: Building an Entrepreneurial Economy in Vuca World” Professor Alabi advised that governments must provide enabling policies, universities must produce innovative graduates, industries must become active partners, financial institutions must support enterprise growth, and entrepreneurs themselves must embrace continuous learning, resilience, ethical leadership, and technological adaptation.

He explained that through entrepreneurial education and empowerment, nations can transform uncertainty into opportunity and build inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive economies.

“Governments should position entrepreneurship as a national development strategy rather than an employment intervention.

“Align entrepreneurship policies with national industrial and digital transformation agendas and investment in entrepreneurship ecosystems at federal, state, and local government levels.

“Building an entrepreneurial economy in a VUCA world requires more than increasing the number of entrepreneurs; it demands developing entrepreneurial leaders who can envision opportunities amid uncertainty, inspire innovation, mobilize resources, and create sustainable value

Professor Alabi also advocated that universities should focus on producing job creators rather than job seekers, establish functional entrepreneurship centres linked to industry, reward commercialization of research and innovation and encourage faculty-industry collaboration.

Other recommendations advanced by Professor Alabi includes, “Integration of entrepreneurship education across all levels of education, from primary to tertiary institutions.

“Shift from certificate-oriented learning to competency and problem-solving-based education.

“Promotion of interdisciplinary learning combining entrepreneurship, digital technology, leadership, and sustainability.

“Strengthen experiential learning through internships, incubators, business simulations, and enterprise projects.

“Developing a National Entrepreneurial Leadership Policy as well as establishment of a coordinated national framework for entrepreneurial leadership development.

“Encouragement of collaboration among government, academia, industry, and civil society”

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Gbenga Ibileye gave an assurance that his administration would continue to encourage delivery of inaugural Lecture to ensure sustainability in the academic system.

Professor Ibileye said that the essence of the academic tradition is an opportunity for the academic staff to showcase their intellectual capacity in their field of study.

The Vice Chancellor described the topic of the lecture as timely and a welcome development that would go a long way in addressing the current economic reality in Nigeria.

He extolled Professor John Alabi, the Inaugural Lecturer, for his choice of contemporary topic that would add value to the people and the nation at large.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) has been fully restored and is now operational after being unavailable for 96 hours.

‎The board made this known in its weekly Bulletin issued on Monday in Abuja.

‎It said the platform was restored on Sunday, Sept.

‎“The Board consequently urges all institutions to immediately accelerate their admission processes to recover the time lost during the period of the disruption and ensure compliance with the admission deadlines agreed at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions,” it said.

‎It said the temporary unavailability of CAPS was caused by an administrative challenge involving its hosting organisation.

‎The board said it had worked with relevant service providers to restore the platform and ensure its stability.

‎It also apologised to candidates, institutions and other stakeholders for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.

‎“The Board sincerely regrets the inconvenience the temporary unavailability of the platform may have caused candidates, institutions and other stakeholders,” it said.

‎It said institutions should now intensify their admission processes, while candidates should promptly accept admission offers made to them.

‎It recalled that stakeholders at the 2026 Policy Meeting agreed that admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session should be concluded within specified deadlines.

According to the board, public universities are expected to conclude admissions on or before Oct. 31, private universities by Nov. 30, while other tertiary institutions have until Dec. 31.

‎“Consequently, all admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session are expected to be concluded by Dec. 31, 2026,” it said.

‎It particularly urged public universities to intensify their admission processes following the release of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

‎It said the development had provided institutions with the results needed to process more admissions before the Oct. 31 deadline.

‎“Following the release of the 2026 NECO results, the Board urges universities, especially public universities, to intensify admissions and meet the Oct. 31 deadline,” it said.

‎JAMB also advised candidates who had been waiting for their NECO results to immediately upload or verify their results on the appropriate platform.

‎It assured stakeholders that it would also speed up the consideration and approval of admission recommendations submitted by institutions through CAPS.

‎It said the Board was also working on measures to make CAPS more stable and reliable and reduce the impact of possible future disruptions.

‎It said the measures would include having alternative systems and arrangements to ensure that the admission process could continue if one hosting or service environment experienced problems.

‎“The Board remains committed to building systems that work reliably for the people we serve,” It said. (NAN)