JAMB advierte a los candidatos contra las admisiones "por la puerta trasera"

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a firm warning to prospective university students in Nigeria, cautioning them against accepting "backdoor" admissions from tertiary institutions that bypass its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). The alert comes amid growing concerns over illegal admissions and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) within universities, as the National Universities Commission (NUC) announces a crackdown on unauthorized enrollment practices. During a question-and-answer session at the 2026 Annual Education Summit of the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja, JAMB's Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, emphasized that all valid admissions must go through the CAPS system and be accompanied by an official JAMB admission letter. He clarified that any student accepted outside this framework risks losing recognition as a legitimate university entrant. Oloyede, speaking through JAMB's Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, reiterated that institutions admitting students beyond their approved quotas are acting illegally. Such students will not be included in the official matriculation list maintained by JAMB. He pointed out that if a program is authorized to admit 50 students, it cannot exceed that number, and any additional student would be considered an illegal admission. The Registrar urged candidates to verify the legitimacy of their admissions and take action against institutions attempting to enroll them through unofficial channels. He stressed that it was not JAMB's role to resolve disputes over such matters, placing the onus on students to ensure their admissions are properly processed through the CAPS system. In addition to addressing issues of illegal admissions, Oloyede highlighted how the CAPS platform has enhanced transparency in the admission process. Students can now track their competitiveness, compare scores, and make informed decisions about which institutions and programs to apply to. He noted that highly sought-after fields such as Medicine, Law, and Nursing typically require higher scores due to intense competition, while students with lower scores might increase their chances by opting for less competitive options. The Registrar also raised concerns about the security of students' SIM cards, emphasizing their importance as identity verification tools in Nigeria's computer-based examination system. He advised against purchasing pre-registered SIM cards or allowing SIM swaps, as these actions could lead to identity theft and examination fraud. Oloyede described SIM cards as unique identifiers tied to personal data and warned that losing control of them could result in serious consequences. Meanwhile, the NUC has announced plans to step up monitoring efforts across universities to prevent over-enrollment and ensure compliance with established admission guidelines. This initiative aims to address systemic issues related to unauthorized admissions and the improper use of AI technologies in academic settings. Specific measures to regulate AI usage have yet to be detailed, but the commission has signaled a commitment to enforcing strict standards. As the education sector continues to grapple with challenges surrounding admissions integrity and technological oversight, both JAMB and the NUC are reinforcing their roles in maintaining accountability and fairness in university entry processes. Their combined efforts reflect a broader push toward standardizing procedures and safeguarding the credibility of higher education in Nigeria.