Former Minister of Education, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili (X/@obyezeks) wrote: “Dear @ChifeDr , this should interest you.
“I asked @deepseek_ai to provide Evidence of the Exam Bodies – JAMB, WAEC and NECO Reforms we did as Minister of Education.
“I wrote:
Find what Ezekwesili did under her technology based reform of exam bodies during her time as minister of education of Nigeria.
“Here’s the reply by DeepSeek:
“During her tenure as Nigeria’s **Minister of Education (2006–2007)**, **Dr. Oby Ezekwesili** (then Obiageli Ezekwesili) advocated for **technology-driven reforms** to modernize the country’s examination bodies, including **JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board), WAEC (West African Examinations Council), and NECO (National Examinations Council)**.
“### **Key Technology-Based Reforms Ezekwesili Pushed For:** 1. **Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Transition** – She pushed for **phasing out paper-based exams** in favor of CBT to reduce malpractice, improve efficiency, and align with global standards. – This later became JAMB’s policy (fully adopted in 2015, years after her tenure).
“2. **Digital Registration & Biometric Verification** – Proposed **automated registration systems** with biometrics (fingerprint/face recognition) to curb impersonation and fraud. – Today, JAMB uses biometric verification, though challenges (server failures, glitches) persist.
“3. **Centralized Digital Results & Admissions System** – Advocated for a **real-time, transparent results portal** to eliminate delays and manual result tampering. – This influenced JAMB’s **Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS)**, launched in 2017.
“4. **Data Integration Across Exam Bodies** – Suggested **interconnectivity between WAEC, NECO, and JAMB databases** to streamline admissions and reduce certificate forgery. – Limited progress has been made, with some universities still relying on manual verification.
“5. **E-Governance & Accountability in Exam Bodies** – Emphasized **digitizing administrative processes** to reduce corruption and bureaucratic bottlenecks. – JAMB later introduced **online sale of forms, e-pins, and automated marking systems** under Prof. Ishaq Oloyede (from 2016).
“## **Why Her Reforms Were Delayed/Not Fully Implemented:** – **Resistance from entrenched interests** (exam fraud syndicates, bureaucratic inertia). – **Inadequate funding & infrastructure** at the time (poor internet, power instability). – **Political turnover**—many reforms were only accelerated under later administrations.
“### **Legacy & Current State** While Ezekwesili’s **vision was ahead of its time**, key elements of her proposed tech reforms were **eventually adopted**, albeit slowly. JAMB’s recent improvements (CBT, CAPS, biometrics) reflect her early advocacy—but Nigeria’s exam bodies **still need further modernization** (e.g., AI proctoring, blockchain certification).
“Would you like a comparison with another country’s exam system (e.g., South Africa, Kenya)?”
Read: JAMB releases ‘Statistical Analysis of Result’ of UTME 2025 – ‘only 0.24% scored 320-above’
Read: Ezekwesili’s reaction to JAMB’s UTME 2025 results
Read: Peter Obi’s reaction to JAMB’s UTME 2025 results
