Abuja: Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Hon. Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, reaffirmed the government's commitment to introducing a centralized university admissions system inspired by Nigeria's Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). He spoke during a policy meeting in Abuja on Monday, 11th May 2026. According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the Deputy Minister stated that Sierra Leone is focused on strengthening policy coordination and improving institutional capacity in higher education. Ongoing reforms, he noted, are already producing noticeable progress in tertiary education and human capital development. The delegation traveled to Nigeria to study the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which regulates entry into tertiary institutions. Aziz-Kamara highlighted the goal of improving transparency, coordination, and efficiency in Sierra Leone's higher education admissions. While existing reforms such as the Free Quality School Education program and the Universities Ac t of 2021 have expanded access, the next step involves full implementation and system strengthening through digital admissions reforms. A joint implementation meeting with JAMB is scheduled for 29th May in Freetown to begin rollout planning. Nigeria's Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, used the same meeting to reaffirm local admission reforms, including strict enforcement of a 16-year minimum entry age, new flexibility for select diploma and agriculture-related programs, and full adoption of CAPS. He warned institutions against bypassing the system, noting that unauthorized admissions are punishable. The Sierra Leone delegation included Prof. Edwin J.J. Momoh of Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology and Prof. Bashiru Mohamed Koroma of Njala University. Both welcomed the reform direction and commended government efforts on digital transformation under President Julius Maada Bio.
- May 15, 2026
