From NYSC to Top Boss: Segun Aina Becomes JAMB Registrar

President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Professor Aina is set to take over from Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose second term concludes on July 31, 2026. This appointment has garnered significant attention, partly due to Professor Aina's age – he will be 40 years old in July – and his impressive career progression across Nigeria's academic, technological, and public policy landscapes. Professor Aina's academic journey began and was completed entirely in the United Kingdom. He obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent in 2008. Following this, he pursued and earned an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security from Loughborough University in 2009, where he later also completed his PhD in Digital Signal Processing. Upon his return to Nigeria, he further enhanced his qualifications with a Senior Management Programme certificate from the Lagos Business School. Remarkably, Professor Aina's professional life commenced at the very institution he is now slated to lead. His initial engagement with JAMB was during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assignment, providing him with early exposure to national admissions processes and data management within institutional frameworks. The State House highlighted that these foundational experiences have been instrumental in shaping his subsequent contributions to examination reforms and system optimization initiatives. At the age of 39, Professor Aina achieved the distinction of becoming one of Nigeria's youngest Computer Engineering professors, having been appointed to that position at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. His elevation to professorial rank was a testament to his robust research output, demonstrated leadership capabilities, and dedicated efforts to bridge academic knowledge with practical, real-world solutions. With this new role, he will also become the youngest individual to ever serve as JAMB's Registrar. Beyond his academic roles, Professor Aina boasts over 15 years of post-graduation experience, extending his expertise to advisory capacities for both public and private sector entities. His consultancy portfolio includes work with the Job Creation Unit within the Office of the Vice President and various state governments. His advisory focus has consistently been on system design, digital transformation, and operational restructuring, areas the State House anticipates he will leverage effectively at JAMB. His familiarity with Nigeria's examination ecosystem is extensive, reaching beyond JAMB. Professor Aina has provided consultancy services to other key examination bodies such as the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), as well as several State Ministries of Education. In these capacities, he offered specialized knowledge in ICT systems, ensuring examination integrity, and optimizing digital processes. In 2010, Professor Aina co-founded Fluid Click Solutions Ltd, an IT services and engineering project management firm. This company's professional interests span diverse sectors including education technology, agriculture, hospitality, capacity building, and technical and vocational education. Professor Aina is also an active member of several prestigious professional engineering organizations, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He has also contributed significantly to scholarly work, authoring approximately 30 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers.