JAMB Plans on constructing a mega 5,000-capacity CBT centre in Ogun

Prof. I. Oloyede

At a ceremonial laying of foundation of a 5000 seater Computer Based Test Centre (CBT Centre) at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, which had the Governor of Ogun State, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun in attendance. The Register of Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB); Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, explained that the bulding was intended to ease the stress being faced by candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) in Ogun, Lagos and other Southwest States. The huge land space at which the building is been erected was graciously allocated by the Ogun State Government free of charge to JAMB.

The construction of the centre is estimated to cost 1 billion naira which is jointly sponsored by the JAMB and the National Communications Commission. Once construction is finalised, the building would be able to comfortably seat 5000 candidates with computer system and provision for broadband internet facility. It would be a 10-storey building, where about 15,000 candidates would be able to sit for exams per day (5,000 at a time, three batches a day).

The NCC was to construct two CBT centres in the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria as delegated by the Federal Government. The Ogun State centre was chosen by the FG over Lagos due to recommendation made by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede on the bases that finding land space in Lagose was challenging. Similar 5000-capacity CBT centres are being built in Bauchi State and Owerri in Imo State, etcetera.

Oloyede further explained that 17% of the total number of candidates who register and sit for the UTME every year in Nigeria come from Ogun while candidates from Lagos state comprises of 19% (making a sum total of 36% from those two states alone). In light of these facts, the construction of a mega CBT centre in Abeokuta was necessary. He claimed that it would create a seemly effortless registration process for prospective candidates and smooth conduct of the examination thereafter.

He futher praised Governor Amosun for allocating the land to JAMB for the mega project, and extended his commendation to the Federal Ministry of Education for lifting the ban on universities from independently conducting post-UTME screening test before granting candidates admission, which he describe as “standard practice” in many counties around the world.