General Olusegun Obasanjo established the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on February 13, 1978 through amended decree 2 of 1978.
Colonel Ahmadu Adah Alli was the then Minister for Education. The Gbobe born soldier turned politician from Igala tribe in Kogi state later handed over to the Ogoni activist, Dr. Garrick B. Leton (1933-2003). These two men are said to have pioneered JAMB.
The Board expanded its scope from limited University Admission to other tertiary Institutions with amended decree 33 of 1989 by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who later appointed Professor Jubrin Muhammed Aminu as Minister for Education.
It was during the tenure of Professor Jubrin Aminu that JAMB became actively functional. His coordination of JAMB at that time as a Minister between 1985 and 1989, was more pronounced than when he became Petroleum Minister between 1989 and 1992 and Nigeria’s Ambassador to America between 1999 and 2003.
No doubt JAMB came more alive during the era of General Babangida. Professor Aminu who later became Senator served between 2003 and 2011 for Adamawa Central, later handed over to Professor Babatunde Aliu Fafunwa (1923-2010).
The main purpose for the establishment of the board by the two Generals was for the unity of the country. Before JAMB was established, there were no private universities and there were complaints by the parents over admission policies of the government owned Universities.
Since 1978, various Registrars have served on the board as Chief Executives. They are Mr. M.S. Angulu, 1977 to 1986, Dr. Mohammed S. Abdulrahman, 1986 to 1996, Professor Bello Ahmed Salim, 1996 to 2006, Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, from Igboho in Oyo State, 2006 to 2016, Professor Is-haq Olanrenwaju Oloyede, (63) OFR, FNAL, 2016 to date.
The JAMB was designed among other things like:
(a) Conduct Matriculation Examination for entry into all Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education (by whatever name called ) in Nigeria.
(b) Appoint Examiners, Moderators, Invigilators, members of the Subject Panels and committees and other persons with respect to matriculation examinations and any other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.
(c) Place suitably qualified candidates in the tertiary institutions after having taken into account:
(i) The vacancies available in each tertiary institution.
(ii) The guidelines approved for each tertiary institution by its proprietors or other competent authorities.
(iii) The preferences expressed or otherwise indicated by the candidates for certain tertiary institutions and courses.
(iv) Such other matters as the Board may be directed by the Honourable Minister to consider or the Board itself may consider appropriate in the circumstances.
(d) Collate and disseminate information on all matters relating to admissions into tertiary institutions or any other matter relevant to the discharge of functions of the board.
And today, millions of Nigerian students have benefited from the Admission policy of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
