The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has committed to partnering with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to enhance the capacity of exam centres used for computer-based matriculation tests in the state.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made this pledge on Tuesday when he received JAMB Registrar Prof. Is’haq Oloyede and the Board’s management team during a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Alausa. The governor emphasized that the collaboration would help improve the performance of admission candidates in Lagos by ensuring a more efficient testing process.

Challenges of Test Centre Capacity in Lagos

The governor addressed the issue of test centre shortages, a recurring challenge faced by JAMB in Lagos. Reports indicate that Lagos accounts for 15% of the total number of candidates sitting for matriculation examinations nationwide. However, the Board often encounters logistical hurdles in providing adequate facilities to accommodate the large number of applicants in the state.

According to JAMB, the Mainland area of Lagos has been particularly affected, with candidates from overcrowded communities sometimes taking their exams up to 10 days beyond the standard schedule due to insufficient test centres.

Sanwo-Olu’s Commitment to Expanding Facilities

Governor Sanwo-Olu praised Prof. Oloyede for his dedicated service, describing him as an "outstanding Nigerian" known for integrity and passion. He reaffirmed his administration's readiness to support JAMB by providing additional resources to improve testing infrastructure.

“Having been informed about the shortage of testing facilities faced by JAMB in Lagos, we are prepared to partner with the Board to expand capacity. We will review the Board’s requests and provide land in Ojo and Ikorodu to establish new centres,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

He also highlighted that the primary beneficiaries of this intervention would be Lagos residents, who would have access to better-equipped examination centres, which could positively impact their test performance and admission prospects.

Plans for New Testing Facilities

The governor expressed his administration’s intention to take immediate steps to identify suitable locations for these testing centres and assured JAMB of continued cooperation to achieve this goal.

“As a sub-national government, we are ready to move forward with these discussions. We will secure land in the identified areas to build improved testing centres,” Sanwo-Olu added.

Prof. Oloyede’s Response

In response, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support and the pledge to collaborate with JAMB. He noted that if approved, the new testing centres would not only enhance the Board’s operations but also serve other government agencies in Lagos by providing facilities for recruitment examinations and other tests.

This partnership underscores the state government’s commitment to improving educational access and ensuring seamless examination experiences for candidates in Lagos.