Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has donated a multi-million-naira Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) North-east Zonal Headquarters and a 500-seat Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre to boost tertiary admission services and strengthen educational infrastructure across the region.
The state-of-the-art facility, located along the Maiduguri-Dikwa Road, was officially handed over on Wednesday and is expected to serve the six states of the North-east by providing administrative, registration and examination services.
Comprising a modern zonal office and one of the largest CBT centres in the country, the complex can accommodate 500 candidates simultaneously and process more than 2,000 candidates daily.
The project is believed to be the first in Nigeria to be fully financed, constructed and donated to JAMB by a state government.
Commissioning the facility, Governor Zulum described the project as a major component of his administration’s drive to rebuild the education sector following years of disruption caused by insurgency.
He said the initiative would improve access to JAMB services, ease the admission process for prospective students and reinforce educational infrastructure in the North-east.
According to the governor, the facility also reflects Borno State’s commitment to strengthening national education service delivery while positioning the region as a strategic hub for computer-based examinations.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, hailed the project as an unprecedented intervention, describing it as one of the finest CBT facilities in Nigeria and the first of its kind in the Board’s history.
“This is the first time in the history of JAMB that a state governor has independently built and donated a zonal office and CBT centre to the Board,” Oloyede said.
He recalled that the project initially appeared ambitious but was completed within four months, attributing the feat to Governor Zulum’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to education.
“Today, reality has surpassed my expectations. In just four months, what seemed humanly impossible has been accomplished,” he said.
Oloyede noted that the new centre would significantly expand JAMB’s operational capacity in the North-east, enabling 500 candidates to sit examinations at the same time while processing over 2,000 candidates daily.
He added that the integrated registration facilities would accelerate candidate registration and documentation in Borno State, reducing delays, congestion and the need for long-distance travel.
“The CBT centre you have graciously provided will serve as a beacon of excellence for computer-based testing and administrative services. It will bring immense relief to candidates, educational institutions and stakeholders across this region.
“More importantly, it represents Your Excellency’s broader commitment to rebuilding educational confidence and expanding opportunities for young people despite the enormous challenges confronting this region,” he stated.
The outgoing JAMB Registrar also commended the Zulum administration’s sustained investments in education, human capital development and youth empowerment, describing education as the foundation for lasting peace, economic recovery and sustainable development in the North-east.
In recognition of Oloyede’s contributions to Nigeria’s education sector, Governor Zulum directed the Borno State Ministry of Education to name the newly commissioned JAMB facility after the outgoing Registrar.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani; the incoming JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina; Acting Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Malumbe; Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe; and other top government officials.
The commissioning marks another milestone in Borno State’s post-insurgency recovery programme, reinforcing the Zulum administration’s commitment to rebuilding schools, expanding tertiary education infrastructure and creating greater opportunities for young people through sustained investment in education.
