The Borno State Government has commenced the construction of a N1 billion Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre and Administrative Block for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) North-East Zonal Office in Maiduguri.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Monday flagged off the project located along the Maiduguri–Dikwa Road, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure in the state.
The facility, upon completion, will serve candidates from Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, providing a modern hub for JAMB operations and examinations in the North-East region.
The JAMB Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who performed the foundation-laying ceremony in the presence of top government officials, commended the Borno State Government for the initiative.
He described the project as unprecedented, noting that it was the first time a state governor had independently undertaken the construction of a JAMB zonal office and CBT centre.
According to Prof. Oloyede, the centre will be equipped with over 500 computers, enabling 500 candidates to sit examinations simultaneously, with the capacity to process more than 2,000 candidates daily.
He added that the in-built registration units would allow the Board to complete registration and documentation for candidates in Borno within two days.
“This project is a milestone. When completed, it will rank among the best CBT centres in the country, comparable to what we have in Kano,” the Registrar said, while urging other state governors to emulate the gesture.
In his remarks, Governor Zulum stressed the importance of sustained investment in education, describing it as critical to the state’s long-term recovery and development
He disclosed that the state government approved N667 million for the construction of the Administrative Block and over N300 million for the CBT Centre in Maiduguri. In addition, the government has committed more than N200 million for the procurement of computer systems for the facility.
(The Nation)
