The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone in developing a transparent, efficient, and technology-driven Centralized Admissions System (CAS) for tertiary institutions across the country.
According to a statement by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the assurance was given during a high-level stakeholder engagement organized by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown as part of efforts to reform the nation’s higher education admissions process.
The engagement followed a recent study visit by a Sierra Leonean delegation led by Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, to Nigeria, where officials observed the operations of Nigeria’s centralized admissions system during JAMB’s Annual Policy Meeting.
Following the visit, Nigeria’s Minister of Education approved a technical mission by JAMB to Sierra Leone to share practical experiences and implementation strategies.
Addressing stakeholders, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, disclosed that the proposed Centralized Admissions System had received Cabinet approval and is supported by the Universities Act of 2021.
She noted that the reform would address inefficiencies associated with the current decentralized admissions process and provide a unified digital platform for universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
According to Dr. Wurie, the initiative is being implemented through collaboration with key institutions, including the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), the National Telecommunications Authority (NATCA), the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, and other technology partners.
She emphasized that Sierra Leone’s goal is not to replicate another country’s model but to adapt proven global best practices to suit its unique educational landscape. The minister also expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, for the support extended to Sierra Leone as it embarks on the reform process.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Aziz-Kamara described the initiative as a major step toward promoting transparency, accountability, efficiency, and fairness in higher education admissions. He revealed that Cabinet had approved the establishment of a Centralized Admissions Secretariat within the ministry to oversee admissions through a unified digital platform.
The stakeholder meeting drew participation from major actors in Sierra Leone’s education sector, including the Permanent Secretary of MTHE, Mohamed Sheick Kargbo; Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah; Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey; Chairman of the Conference of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, Prof. Edwin J.J. Momoh; Chairman of the Conference of Principals, Peter J. Sandy; Head of WAEC Sierra Leone, Matilda Jusu; representative of TEC, Prof. Osman Sankoh; Director of Corporate and Industry Affairs of NATCA, Abdul Ben Foday; Director-General of NCRA, Mohamed Massaquoi; Director of Higher Education, Emmanuel J. Momoh Esq.; and Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Sia Fasuluku.
A major highlight of the engagement was JAMB’s presentation of a comprehensive framework for establishing a national digital admissions architecture designed to improve transparency, eliminate duplication, enhance data integrity, and strengthen educational planning.
In his remarks, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, commended the Government of Sierra Leone for adopting an inclusive and consultative approach to the reform process. He recalled that Nigeria established its centralized admissions system in 1978 to address challenges similar to those currently facing Sierra Leone and assured stakeholders of JAMB’s continued technical support throughout the implementation phase.
Prof. Oloyede stressed that the objective was not to export the Nigerian model wholesale but to assist Sierra Leone in building a system tailored to its national realities while benefiting from decades of practical experience in admissions administration.
The Nigerian delegation to the engagement included the Chairman of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), Prof. Wahab Egbewole; JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin; Deputy Director of Operations, Mr. Ashura Abdullahi; Data Analyst, Mr. Oluwaseyi Bada; and Social Media Content Provider, Mr. Prince Kalu.
The visit is being viewed as a significant milestone in educational cooperation between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, reinforcing both countries’ commitment to expanding access to quality higher education through innovation, transparency, and institutional collaboration.
