REVEALED: Why JAMB can’t use Ajagungbade ICT Centre for CBT
Yinka ADETUNJI
The Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III ICT Centre at Oke – Owode Ogbomoso, Oyo state, does not meet the standard required by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), it has been disclosed.
The ICT centre named after the late Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, and facilitated by Dr Fatai Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial District, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, was commissioned in 2022.
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Many expressed joy that the new centre would be used by JAMB to conduct its annual Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) and thus help candidates writing the exams from Ogbomoso and its environs to stay back home for the CBT as in recent years many sat for the exams in faraway places in Oke-Ogun towns especially.
However, a staffer of JAMB has declared the Ajagungbade ICT Centre would not be certified for the UTME because its capacity is below the minimum standard.
According to the staffer who however spoke under conditions of anonymity, “the centre as it is presently cannot be used by JAMB because its capacity is below the minimum standard required.”
Disclosing he advised on the capacity while the ICT centre was being put up explained, “JAMB requires a minimum of 250 computers for the UTME but the Ajagungbade ICT Centre has only 150. Aside the 250 minimum, there must be 25 back ups in case of systems failure during the examination.”
He added that for JAMB to consider the centre the capacity has to be increased to accommodate more candidates.
Meanwhile, the Ajagungbade ICT Centre has been given to the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Ogbomoso, though the centre is presently under lock and key.
The only other ICT centre with large capacity in Ogbomoso zone is that of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso but it is inadequate for the large number of candidates that sit for the exam in Ogbomoso annually.
“I have encouraged some private individuals to construct CBT centres that will meet the standard of JAMB in the town but so far none has responded. It is good business though long term,” the staffer said.
