Kabiru Haruna
At the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admission to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the gathering as a statutory convergence of stakeholders and a vital barometer for assessing progress in the education sector.
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In her remarks, Professor Ahmad commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Professor Ishaq Oloyede Olaranwaju for sustained transparency, consistency, and integrity in the administration of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
She noted that JAMB’s improved operational efficiency, data reliability, and ethical standards have significantly raised the credibility of the admissions process across the country.
She emphasized that the policy meeting is not only aimed at reviewing institutional practices but also at strengthening policy direction to ensure alignment between access, quality, and equity in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The timing of the meeting, she said, aligns with intensified efforts to reposition education as a transformative tool in actualizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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Professor Ahmad stressed the urgent need for a future-driven, inclusive, and merit-based education system—one capable of equipping Nigerian youth with the skills necessary to thrive in today’s global knowledge economy.
She drew attention to the increasing demand for tertiary education and the growing equity gaps affecting underserved and vulnerable populations.
Addressing challenges such as admission irregularities and outdated institutional practices, she advocated for the review of cut-off marks and policies that hinder fair access, system efficiency, and student success.
These, she asserted, must be addressed in line with the Ministry’s mandate and the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
She urged tertiary institutions to realign their admission criteria with national goals, uphold the principles of justice, merit, and collaboration, and embrace technology and data analytics in the decision-making process.
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“As we deliberate on the 2025 admission cycle, let us be guided by the principles of justice, efficiency, and national interest,” Professor Ahmad concluded.
“We owe it to the next generation to build an education system that is fair, competitive, and transformative.”