By Chinaza Osigwe
The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining strong collaboration with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), pledging continued support to enhance the Board’s operations and expand Computer-Based Test (CBT) facilities across the state.The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, gave the assurance when the Anambra State Coordinator of JAMB, Dr. Diana Obiano, led her management team on a courtesy visit to her office at the State Secretariat Complex, Awka.Prof. Chuma-Udeh described JAMB as an integral component of the state’s education system, noting that the government does not take the Board’s role lightly, especially in the conduct of qualifying examinations and placement of candidates into tertiary institutions.She commended JAMB for the establishment of a 450-capacity CBT centre in the state and assured that the Soludo administration is willing to support the establishment of additional centres to improve access, efficiency and convenience for candidates.Earlier, Dr. Obiano said JAMB considers Anambra a major academic hub in the South-East, given the large number of applicants from the state and their consistent strong performance in examinations. She attributed this to the state government’s sustained emphasis on quality education under Governor Chukwuma Soludo.She noted that the Board had contributed significantly to educational development in the state through the establishment of a fully equipped 450-capacity CBT centre at its Amawbia office and reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the Ministry of Education to ensure smooth registration and examination processes.Dr. Obiano added that JAMB last year conducted extensive sensitisation programmes for secondary school students in both rural and urban areas on UTME registration procedures at CBT centres ahead of the April examinations.She, however, appealed to the state government for additional support, including the provision of official vehicles to access hard-to-reach areas, renovation of offices, and the construction of holding halls at the Amawbia headquarters to accommodate the increasing number of candidates during registration and examinations.Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu, and the Director of Schools, Mrs. Oyibo Alor.
