Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged to establish more Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the state to enhance access to education for candidates.
The announcement came during a visit by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to the Lagos House in Ikeja, where Sanwo-Olu revealed plans to allocate significant plots of land in Ojo, FESTAC, Ikorodu, and Mile 12 for the construction of the new centres.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of education as a key driver of economic growth, saying, “Education is one of the strongest tools you can give to a human being.” He reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the quality of education in Lagos, citing initiatives like the Teacher’s Merit Award, which rewards exceptional educators with training, cash incentives, and vehicles to ensure the sustainability of the teaching profession. “We will continue to encourage people to remain in the teaching sector. That is the only way we can keep the profession alive,” he added.
The governor also shared that Lagos State had partnered with a public school in Singapore to enhance staff development and boasted of having one of the best public service staff development schools in the country. He commended Prof. Oloyede for his leadership at JAMB, praising his “dedication, integrity, and commitment to excellence,” which have resulted in the significant improvements at the institution.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated Lagos State’s dedication to collaborating with JAMB to enhance educational opportunities for youth, stressing, “Together, I believe we can achieve even more significant milestones to benefit our state and the entire country by enhancing the educational landscape and creating opportunities for our youths.”
In response, Prof. Oloyede expressed appreciation for the state’s ongoing support, particularly the plan to build more CBT centres. He pointed out that although Lagos accounts for 15 percent of candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), it has fewer than 10 percent of the country’s CBT centres. He called for further collaboration, including support to relocate JAMB’s office from Ikoyi to a more central location, making it more accessible for mainland-based candidates who represent 90 percent of the state’s examinees. “We extend our hands of partnership in sensitisation programmes. Priming our students for examinations is necessary, and this cannot be done without the state’s support,” Oloyede stated.
