Sierra Leone has sent a high level delegation to Nigeria to understudy the centralised admission system operated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, as the West African country works towards establishing a similar body to coordinate admissions into its tertiary institutions.

The delegation, led by Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Education, Sarjoh Aziz Kamara, includes the Vice Chancellor of Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Professor Edwin Momoh, and the Vice Chancellor of Njala University, Professor Bashiru Koroma. The officials were taken through JAMB's examination and admission processes at the board's headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, on Sunday.

JAMB's spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the visit in a statement, noting that the Sierra Leonean officials expressed appreciation to the board and acknowledged that growing admission numbers in their country had created challenges that Nigeria's model could help address. "They are in Nigeria to understudy the nation's centralised admission system as Sierra Leone plans to establish a body similar to JAMB to streamline its own admission process," the statement reads.

The visit coincided with preparations for JAMB's 2026 Policy Meeting, scheduled for Monday and chaired by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. The annual meeting brings together heads of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, both public and private, to deliberate on admission benchmarks for the year. Guidelines for the 2026 admission exercise into all tertiary institutions, including the determination of minimum tolerable scores for candidates, were to be considered and adopted at the session.

Benjamin noted that the Sierra Leonean delegation would also witness the policy meeting firsthand. "During tomorrow's Policy Meeting, they will also witness firsthand how critical stakeholders are actively carried along in the admission value chain," he stated.

The board used the occasion to push back against recurring calls for its scrapping, arguing that Sierra Leone's interest in replicating its framework speaks to its value. "Indeed, one can only imagine what Nigeria's admission system would have looked like without JAMB. Those clamouring for the scrapping of the Board may better appreciate its strategic importance should such a situation ever arise," the statement reads.

In recent years, JAMB has faced criticism over technical glitches during examinations, high registration costs, admission process difficulties, and transparency concerns.