By David Oluwatosin
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned universities and other tertiary institutions against issuing admission letters directly to candidates, insisting that the board remains the sole authority responsible for issuing official admission documents.
The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, gave the warning when he received a delegation from Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, during a courtesy visit to his office.
Aina expressed concern that institutions issuing their own admission letters could mislead candidates into believing they had secured valid admission, even when their offers had not been properly processed and recognised through the approved admission system.
He urged institutions engaging in the practice to stop immediately and ensure that candidates obtain their official admission documents through the appropriate JAMB procedures.
According to the registrar, the board is statutorily empowered to issue official admission letters to candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
He stressed that institutions must comply with the established admission process rather than substitute their own letters for official documents issued by JAMB.
The registrar recalled that the Federal Ministry of Education had directed all tertiary institutions to process admissions through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
He warned that admissions conducted outside the approved platform were illegal and invalid, emphasising that institutions must follow the established procedures for candidates to secure recognised admission offers.
CAPS is the platform through which JAMB coordinates admission offers and enables candidates to accept or reject offers made by institutions.
Aina maintained that institutions could not replace the official admission documentation issued by JAMB after candidates had accepted their offers through the platform.
The warning reinforces the board’s position that compliance with the approved admission process is essential to ensuring the validity and recognition of admissions across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Aina further warned that admissions not recognised through CAPS could create problems for candidates seeking to access subsequent opportunities, including mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
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The development raises concerns for prospective students who may rely on admission letters issued directly by institutions without confirming that their admission status has been properly recognised by JAMB.
Candidates who fail to secure admission through the approved process could face difficulties when their academic records are checked for official purposes.
The board’s position also places responsibility on tertiary institutions to ensure that their admission procedures comply with the applicable regulations and that candidates receive accurate information about their admission status.
The warning comes amid the need to maintain transparency, consistency and accountability in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.
By insisting on the use of CAPS and official admission documentation, JAMB aims to ensure that admission offers are properly processed and recognised within the national system.
The board has urged institutions to comply with the established procedures to prevent candidates from being exposed to uncertainty over the validity of their admission.
For prospective students, the message is to verify their admission status through JAMB’s approved channels and ensure that their offers are properly reflected on CAPS before relying on admission documents issued by their institutions.
