Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), commissioned a state-of-the-art examination centre in Borno State on Wednesday, just over a week before he steps down from office. His successor, Segun Aina, joined him at the unveiling of the facility, which was donated by the Borno State government.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oloyede praised Governor Babagana Zulum for what he called a transformative investment in education. He said the centre would relieve pressure on candidates across the North-East region seeking admission to universities and other tertiary institutions.
Oloyede told reporters that he'd visited several of Borno's smart schools and was struck by the governor's commitment to making education a pillar of his administration. He described Zulum's backing for JAMB and the broader education sector as remarkable.
Aina, the incoming registrar, commended the partnership between Borno State and JAMB. He urged the relationship to continue, saying stronger collaboration would boost the board's work and drive educational progress in the state.
Zulum said his government sees education as the key to tackling the state's social and economic problems. The governor disclosed that Borno invested over ₦1 billion to build the mega centre, arguing the long-term returns justify the expense.
The facility sits on 5,300 square metres of fully fenced and landscaped land, powered by a new 300kVA transformer. It houses eight offices, three conference rooms, four registration areas, and 16 restrooms in the main complex.
Two examination halls dominate the centre, each fitted with 275 computers. This setup allows the venue to test 500 candidates per session or up to 2,000 daily during examination periods.
Two waiting areas with combined capacity for 500 people, plus six more restrooms, ensure candidates remain comfortable while awaiting their turns. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB's acting director of public affairs and protocol, outlined these details to journalists.
Zulum laid the foundation stone on February 24, 2026. The project was finished in less than six months, beating the original timeline the governor had set.
