Tunji Alausa has asked the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to fully adopt computer-based testing by 2026.
The education minister was inspecting centres for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Monday.
Alausa commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its “transparent and almost foolproof” exam process, describing it as meeting international standards.
He said WAEC and NECO must begin conducting their objective papers in CBT by November 2025, with full transition to include essay components by May/June 2026.
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The directive, he said, is part of broader efforts to curb exam malpractice and modernise the country’s assessment systems.
“If JAMB can conduct CBT exams for over 2.2 million candidates, then WAEC and NECO, which serve fewer students, should be able to achieve the same,” the minister said.
Alausa said a high-level committee, led by a professor, has been established to review current practices and recommend improvements to exam quality nationwide.
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The minister also reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to human capital development and institutional autonomy, warning students to shun cheating and focus on diligence.
After the inspection, Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB’s registrar, gave a technical briefing on the UTME’s administration.
He noted that over two million candidates applied for admission into more than 1,400 institutions.
He said JAMB’s digital infrastructure and trained workforce were key to its exam delivery success.
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Oloyede described the board’s security measures as a “new benchmark” for examinations in Nigeria, pledging continued innovation and accountability.
