40-Year-Old Segun Aina Assumes Office as JAMB Registrar

Professor Segun Aina has officially assumed office as JAMB Registrar, becoming the youngest person to head the examination body at age 40. The computer engineering professor succeeds Professor Is-haq Oloyede and is expected to continue technology-driven reforms in Nigeria's tertiary admissions system.

Daniel Momodu · July 31, 2026 · 13

Professor Segun Aina has officially assumed office as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), succeeding Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose second and final five-year tenure ended on July 31. At 40, Aina becomes the youngest person to lead the examination body since its establishment, ushering in a new chapter for one of Nigeria's most critical education agencies.

President Bola Tinubu announced Aina's appointment in May, describing him as a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure and institutional reform. Before assuming office, Aina served as a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, where he built a reputation in digital technologies and public-sector innovation.

Aina holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, as well as a Master's degree in Internet Computing and Network Security and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University. He also completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School. His appointment has been widely viewed as a move to strengthen technology-driven reforms within JAMB.

Interestingly, Aina's relationship with JAMB dates back to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, when he served in the organisation and gained firsthand experience of its operations. Since then, he has remained involved in examination systems and digital infrastructure, experience expected to shape his leadership of the board.

He takes over from Professor Oloyede, whose decade-long tenure transformed JAMB through major reforms, including the expansion of computer-based testing, improvements in transparency and significant increases in revenue remittances to the Federal Government. Stakeholders will now be watching to see how Aina builds on those achievements while addressing emerging challenges in Nigeria's tertiary admissions process.