Soludo Urges JAMB to Embrace Technology, Warns Against Reverting to Analogue Systems

 Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, speaking at a June 11, 2025, education summit in Awka, urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to strengthen its technological systems, warning that “failures must not drag us back to analogue methods.”

The remark, addressing JAMB’s 2025 UTME glitches, where 10% of 1.9 million candidates faced delays due to server issues, emphasized Nigeria’s need to advance digital education infrastructure. Soludo, a former CBN governor, framed technology as critical for Nigeria’s global competitiveness, as JAMB navigates post-COVID examination challenges.

Soludo highlighted Anambra’s investments in e-learning, including 5,000 smart classrooms and free Wi-Fi in schools, as models for JAMB. He criticized the 2025 UTME’s manual result verification delays, which affected 200,000 candidates, per JAMB’s registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede. “Analogue systems breed inefficiency and corruption,” Soludo said, citing JAMB’s 1978-1990s paper-based era, prone to exam malpractices. He proposed AI-driven proctoring and blockchain for result security, drawing from India’s NEET system. JAMB, Soludo noted, generates ₦50 billion annually from UTME fees, sufficient for tech upgrades.

JAMB’s Oloyede, present at the summit, admitted server overloads but defended progress, noting 90% online result delivery since 2020. NANS president Lucky Emonefe supported Soludo, urging federal funding. Critics like PDP’s Osita Chidoka questioned Anambra’s own exam logistics, citing rural access gaps. The call, covered by ThisDay, aligns with Nigeria’s Education 2030 roadmap, as Soludo pushes JAMB to lead Africa’s digital assessment revolution, amid debates on balancing innovation with equity.