A Professor of Comparative Political Economy at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Adelaja Odukoya, has accused the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) of imposing excessive charges on prospective students seeking admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Speaking at the sixth inaugural lecture of UNILAG for the current academic session, held on Wednesday, Prof. Odukoya criticized JAMB’s centralized admission system, describing it as outdated and an infringement on university autonomy.
JAMB’s Intrusion into University Admissions
Prof. Odukoya, who also serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UNILAG and the Lagos Zone Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), lamented the growing influence of JAMB in the university admission process.
He stated: “I don’t know why our public universities have turned a blind eye to JAMB’s infractions. We are allowing JAMB and its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to get away with exploitative charges imposed on hapless admission seekers, from uploading and downloading results to checking admission status.”
He further argued that JAMB was not created to be a revenue-generating agency, adding that the funds generated from admissions should rightfully belong to the universities.
Calls for JAMB’s Role to Be Reconsidered
The professor questioned the necessity of JAMB’s continued existence, stating:
“JAMB has become a behemoth whose relevance has expired. It is time to stage a requiem mass for it. Universities should be allowed to admit students independently, without a middleman dictating the process. JAMB is not expanding access to education; rather, it has become an admission body with the largest online presence in Africa.”
Prof. Odukoya also pointed out that despite two million candidates sitting for UTME annually, only about a quarter of them secure admission, while JAMB continues to declare surplus revenue from the process.
Criticism of the Political Class and Governance in Africa
Beyond the JAMB debate, Prof. Odukoya criticized Nigeria’s ruling class, accusing politicians of greed and selfishness. He highlighted the widening gap between the rich and the poor, which he attributed to corruption, maladministration, and an exploitative economic system.
He called for a new leadership model in Africa, emphasizing the need for citizens, intellectuals, and professionals to unite in producing selfless leaders who can drive development.
Acknowledgment and Closing Remarks
Prof. Odukoya expressed gratitude to UNILAG’s management, his family, mentors, and colleagues for their support throughout his career.
Speaking at the event, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Prof. Bola Oboh, commended Odukoya’s contributions to academia. She described him as a fearless advocate for the powerless and a dedicated scholar whose insights would inspire positive change in Nigeria’s educational and political landscape.
She concluded: “With this rich and well-delivered lecture, you have been counted among high-profile professors who have paid their dues in academia. You are hereby discharged and acquitted.”