Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, has instructed that starting from November 2025, both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) should begin administering their multiple-choice exams through Computer-Based Testing (CBT).
By May/June 2026, he stated that the aim is for both the objective and essay sections of WAEC and NECO exams to be completely shifted to Computer-Based Testing (CBT). This move aims to help reduce exam fraud even more.
The Minister stated this during an inspection of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) after visiting some of the centres in Abuja on Monday.
Dr. Alausa noted that if JAMB could successfully conduct CBT exams for over 2.2 million candidates nationwide, WAEC and NECO, which handle slightly fewer numbers, should also be able to replicate the same feat without difficulty.
Nevertheless, he showed contentment regarding the administration of the current UTME and praised the significant degree of organization, openness, and honesty exhibited by the Board. He characterized the exam procedure as adhering to global benchmarks and nearly impervious to misconduct.
Under the present government, the rule of law is upheld, enabling bodies such as JAMB to function autonomously and effectively.
He cautioned the candidates about cheating, encouraging them instead to depend on their efforts to attain success.
The minister further revealed that a committee chaired by a professor has been established to evaluate and propose measures for sustaining and enhancing the standards of examinations at every level.
The Registrar/CEO of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, provided an extensive overview of the technical and operational structure supporting the management of the UTME.
Oloyede disclosed that JAMB handled applications from more than 2,040,538 students aspiring for admission into 1,452 higher educational institutions. This process was backed by approximately 2,000 employees along with numerous temporary workers overseeing computer-based test centers throughout the country.
He said JAMB’s robust and secure processes have set a new benchmark for examinations in Nigeria and affirmed the Board’s commitment to sustaining and improving these standards.
