JAMB Warns New Institutions Against Illegal Admissions, Enforces CAPS Compliance

Strict Admission Guidelines for New Tertiary Institutions

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a strong warning to newly established, upgraded, and adopted tertiary institutions against engaging in illegal admissions. The board emphasized that there will be no room for regularization of any admissions that bypass the official process.

Mandatory Use of CAPS for All Admissions

Speaking at an interactive session with principal officers of affected institutions in Abuja, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede stressed that all admissions must be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and follow due process.

“CAPS ensures transparency, fairness, and integrity in admissions. Any institution attempting to bypass this platform risks nullifying such admissions,” Oloyede stated.

The registrar called for full compliance from over 80 new institutions recently approved by the Federal Government, explaining that CAPS (introduced in 2017) automates and standardizes the admission process, while the Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS, launched in 2018) facilitates clear communication and program eligibility checks.

Government Commitment to Education Expansion

Oloyede commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for approving:

• 22 new universities
• 33 new polytechnics and mono-technics
• 12 new colleges of education

between late 2024 and 2025, demonstrating commitment to expanding access to tertiary education.

Strict Compliance Requirements

The JAMB boss outlined key requirements for new institutions:

• Programs must be cleared by NUC, NBTE, or NCCE
• Institutions must nominate designated officers for CAPS/IBASS management
• Technical support will be provided but compliance is mandatory

A live demonstration of the CAPS and IBASS systems was conducted to familiarize institutions with operational protocols.

Stakeholder Perspectives

Prof. William Qurix, Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, noted the meeting’s importance in clarifying admission processes for new institutions facing challenges in attracting candidates.

Dr. Uche Uba, Director of Colleges at the Ministry of Education, emphasized that new institutions must meet NUC criteria, particularly urging colleges of education to upgrade to dual-mode systems.

Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of NCCE, praised JAMB’s technological innovations in creating a seamless admission process and encouraged new colleges to follow established procedures to remain competitive.

Source: Punch Newspapers