A call has been made to all the Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres in Ogun State to only charge appropriates fees as stipulated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The call was made by the State Coordinator, Ogun State, Mr. Hakeem AbdulHameed, during a 3-day sensitization meeting with all CBT centres in his office, which was held between 24th and 26th September, 2024.
In his address, AbdulHameed admonished the Proprietors/Administrators of the privately-owned CBT centres not to charge above the specified charges for the services they render to candidates.
He reiterated that the Board frowns at corrupt practices and any centre involved in such, would face the long arm of the law.
AbdulHameed said the meeting became necessary as the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, had specifically directed all State Coordinators, during the just-concluded ARCHEAD conference organised by the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), to forward relevant advisories to all CBT centres within their domain on the need to operate within the ambit of the law as well as put in place necessary protocols to reduce physical contact with candidates in their day-to-day activities during the registration exercise and examinations.
He added that the meeting is not a new thing as it is the tradition of the Board to invite CBT centres for sensitization before the commencement of the UTME registration exercise and the subsequent examination in any given year.
The Coordinator disclosed that the Registrar in his magnanimity has directed the reinstatement of Outlet centres by respective centres for the 2025 UTME registration exercise as he believes in their benefits to both centres and candidates alike.
He, therefore, advised that all applications for Outlets should be addressed to the Registrar as he is the only one who could approve such requests.
He stated that any centre owner that has the intention of abusing the privilege need not apply.
Furthermore, the State Coordinator revealed that monitoring of CBT centres in the State would be intensified to ensure total compliance with all advisories issued by the Board as some of them have been found to be contravening extant directives.
AbdulHameed also cautioned Centre Administrators to put an end to the unholy alliance existing between some of them and cyber cafes.
He noted that some illegal activities of some cyber cafés could not thrive without the support of unscrupulous Centre Administrators.
He, therefore, stressed the need to separate the real CBT operators from those involved in illegal practices.
In his presentation, the Head, CBT Support Services, Mr. Wale Afolabi, said the 2025 routine registration of centres would commence on 16th September, 2024, adding that the exercise should be taken seriously as it marks the beginning of the centre accreditation process.
He advised Centre Administrators to supply needed information such as: centre capacity, IP address, system specifications, details of Centre Administrator, among others.
Furthermore, he said centre facilities such as DVR, electrical switches, cooling systems, alternative power supply, to mention but a few, should be in optimal condition.
He also encouraged them to carry out periodic checks to ensure that their facilities are in good condition and not wait until the commencement of the accreditation exercise to do so.
Speaking further, Afolabi warned Centre Administrators not to render services that are restricted to JAMB Offices only.
These are: Condonement of Undisclosed Illegal Institutional Admissions (CUIIA), Condonement of Illegitimate Admissions, Change of Programmes, Conversion from UTME to Direct Entry (DE), Correction of Data, among others, rather they should direct such candidates to their respective State Offices.
On the use of NIN for the registration exercise, Afolabi urged staff to ensure that each candidate has only one profile adding that only N700 naira service charge should be collected from each candidates for registration.
In their individual responses, the Centre Administrator, Early Heights CBT Centre, Mr. Joshua Omogbemi, pleaded with the Board’s Management to inform the centres in good time of any modification to the software application especially the one that would be used for the auto-test.
He also appealed for the upward review of the service charges as the economic hardship is overwhelming business owners nationwide.
Similarly, the Centre Administrator, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Engr. Alamu, expressed appreciation to the State Coordinator for constantly keeping them updated coupled with his constant support to centres in the State.
In her vote of thanks, Ms. Oluwaseun Shogunle, CBT Support Unit, Ogun State Office, thanked the Centre Administrators for making it to the meeting while urging them to continue to adhere to all the rules and regulations as specified under their terms of engagement.
