Meet Segun Aina, 39-year-old professor appointed JAMB’s new registrar

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, succeeding Ishaq Oloyede whose tenure expires on July 31, 2026.

The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, Aina is a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University with expertise in digital infrastructure, national examination systems, and institutional reforms.

The Presidency described him as one of Nigeria’s youngest professors in Computer Engineering, noting that he would become the youngest registrar in the history of JAMB when he assumes office at age 39 before turning 40 in July.

What they are saying

In announcing the appointment, the Presidency said Aina brings extensive experience in technology-driven public sector reforms and examination system management.

According to the statement, the professor has over 15 years of professional experience advising federal and state governments on digital transition, institutional reforms, and systems design.

The Presidency also highlighted his previous consulting roles with examination bodies, including the National Examinations Council and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, particularly on ICT systems and examination integrity.

• “Professor Aina, who will be 40 in July, is a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, and public-sector institutional reform,” the statement read.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new registrar would consolidate on reforms introduced under Oloyede’s administration.

• “President Tinubu 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 added.

Segun Aina’s career experience  

The 39-year-old academic and technology expert has built a career spanning academia, engineering, entrepreneurship, digital systems, and educational technology.

• Aina obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent in 2008 before proceeding to Loughborough University, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Internet Computing and Network Security in 2009.
• He later completed a PhD in Electrical Engineering with specialisation in Digital Signal Processing at Loughborough University in 2015.
• In 2010, Aina completed his National Youth Service Corps programme as a Computer Systems Engineer and Analyst with JAMB, an institution he is now set to lead as registrar.

That same year, he co-founded Fluid Click Solutions Limited, an IT services and engineering project management company, marking his early transition into technology entrepreneurship and systems consulting.

Aina currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, where he has held several academic and administrative positions.

• According to the University, his areas of specialisation include Digital Signal Processing, Pattern Classification, Image Processing, and Object Recognition, while his broader research interests span Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, and Human-Computer Interaction.
• Over the years, he has taught courses in Computer Applications, Computer Architecture, Real-Time Systems, Digital Signal Processing Systems, and Advanced Computer Architecture.

Beyond teaching and research, Aina has played major leadership roles within the university system.

He currently serves as Academic Programme Coordinator of the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Digital Literacy and Emerging Technology and also chairs the COREN Accreditation Committee for the 2023/2024 academic session.

He has additionally served on several university committees, including the e-Learning Committee, Postgraduate Committee, Consultancy Committee, Engineering Accreditation Committee, and conference planning committees focused on technology and digital innovation.

More details

Aina is a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Institution of Engineering and Technology, and the Nigerian Computer Society.

• According to the Presidency, he also completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School as part of his executive and leadership training.
• On his personal website, Aina describes himself as someone who “straddles the spheres of academia and entrepreneurship” with a passion for technology, education, problem solving, and development.

He also describes himself as result-driven, enthusiastic, and inspired by new challenges, particularly those focused on innovation and institutional improvement.

What you should know

Aina assumes leadership of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board at a time when Nigeria’s tertiary admission system is increasingly dependent on technology, digital examination infrastructure, and public confidence in examination integrity.

The board under Ishaq Oloyede introduced major reforms, including the expansion of computer-based testing, improvements in central admission processing, and stronger anti-malpractice measures that significantly reshaped Nigeria’s university admission system.

• However, cut-off marks set by the board have declined over the years. For the 2026 admission exercise, JAMB approved a minimum UTME score of 150 for universities, while polytechnics will accept candidates who score at least 100.
• There have also been recent regulatory changes that have raised public concern. Earlier this month, JAMB announced that from the 2027 admission cycle, candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education for education-related and non-engineering agriculture programmes would no longer be required to sit for the UTME.

Just before Aina’s appointment was announced, JAMB disclosed that it had released 279 results from the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination that were previously withheld for investigation.

As the incoming registrar, Aina is expected to build on existing reforms while navigating growing concerns around digital security, examination transparency, system efficiency, and the increasing role of technology in large-scale public examinations.