The
dust raised by the release of JAMB’s 2019 UTME results around the country is
expected to have settled down by now. The statistical evidence, as presented
by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), didn’t bode well for a
large number of participants. According to reports, a staggering 72.2% of the
1,792,719 candidates who sat for the examination scored below 50%.
Now all attention turns to these participants (those above and below the 50%
benchmark) as regards to what step they take with their respective results in
gaining admission into the different tertiary institutions situated around
the country.
Introducing the IJMB program.
What Is IJMB?
As an acronym for Interim Joint Matriculation Board, IJMB is a proven, certified
and advanced level programme approved by the Federal Government and moderated
by Ahmadu Bello University, ABU Zaria, with coordinating bodies located
across various tertiary institutions in the country.
As the name implies, IJMB is an A-level-nine-month programme that is
established and certified by the National University Commission (NUC) as an
alternative mode of securing admission via direct 200L entry into any tertiary
institution in Nigeria. Upon successful completion, those who enroll for this
programme are presented with a certificate—presently recognized and accepted in
more than 80% of the Nigerian universities. Candidates can check item 2.2 of
JAMB BROCHURE to confirm this.
Brief History
IJMB was founded by the Interim Common Services Agency in 1976. The Interim
Common Services Agency is a commission set up by the government of the old Northern
Region to provide educational assistance to candidates who could not gain admission
to regular degree programmes in Northern universities due to different
reasons. Since then, it has rapidly been extended to other parts of the
country.
How Does It Work?
Prospective candidates are required to pick any three IJMB Subjects that
correspond with their preferred courses in their respective universities—be
it Science, Art or Social Science. Lectures would then commence at the
respective study centres for a period of time, which is an academic session
divided into two semesters. IJMB centres begin every March and end in
January.
In the end, candidates would then sit for the final examination which is
conducted every February. Upon completion of the programme, successful students
are granted a certificate that guarantees them a 200L direct entry (DA) admission
into any of the Nigerian tertiary institutions.
You can use your IJMB certificate to gain admission by first acquiring JAMB’s
Direct Entry (DA) form online or at any of JAMB’s offices nearest to you. You
will fill out the form in accordance with your IJMB result. The JAMB form
provides you with the option of choosing two tertiary institutions as your
first and second choice.
Who Is Eligible?
Everyone seeking to further his or her education is eligible for this programme.
This includes past and freshly graduated students and the working class
nationwide. Even candidate awaiting their ordinary level result can also apply for the IJMB programme.
What Are the Requirements?
The
requirements are quite simple and easy to meet. First, candidates are expected
to either be at the final phase of or have already completed their secondary
school education. Second, you don't need to provide any JAMB or UTME result.
All you need is a five-credit pass gotten from any O’ level examination of not
more than two sittings.
Academic Session
IJMB calendar begins in November every year and ends in April for the registration
of the following year. In March, while registration is ongoing, lectures for
the session commence and end in December. In January, revision for the
session commences. Examination for the session usually starts in January or
early February and lasts for three weeks whereas results are released in
April.
Track Record
IJMB is known for its high percentage success rate. Yearly, the program
records about 20,000 applicants. And more than 70% of those applicants
successfully secure admission via direct entry into their preferred tertiary institutions
to take on any course. Unlike JAMB, IJMB certificate is known to be valid for
seven years.
Prominent Beneficiaries of the IJMB Programme
Adamu Adamu – Minister of Education
Sanusi Lamido – Former CBN Governor and current Emir of Kano
Elrufai – Governor of Kaduna state
Namadi Sambo – Former Vice President of Nigeria
Late Umaru Musa Yaradua – He was a lecturer in the IJMB program.
And at some point in Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, 19 out of the 36 Governors
were all beneficiaries of the IJMB programme.
Conclusion
To gain admission into any of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria is not
an easy task. Statistics have shown that only 20% of the annual UTME candidates
are successful. Candidates who fall under the unsuccessful 80% are left to wait for a year to stand another chance. But
with IJMB now at the helm as an alternative to JAMB and its highly successful
admission rate via direct entry, many eager Nigerians can now fulfil their
aspiration of securing safe passage into various tertiary institutions in the
country.
© Victor Wisdom
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