By Nkiru Anakor
The Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) programme of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has recorded more than 1,000 applicants for the 2025/2026 academic session, with 968 candidates sitting for the examinations.
The Director of JUPEB, UNIZIK, Prof. Chidi Akunne, disclosed this on Aug. 19 during an examination monitoring exercise by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie.
Prof. Akunne commended the Vice-Chancellor for his support, noting that improved facilities and administrative backing had strengthened the programme and enhanced the learning environment for students.
He said JUPEB commenced at UNIZIK in 2016 and had continued to attract increasing enrolment. The growth, he explained, had placed pressure on existing lecture facilities, which were previously designed to accommodate about 400 to 500 students.
According to him, the Vice-Chancellor responded by approving alternative facilities, including the Faculty of Biosciences Hall, where about seven halls were prepared to accommodate the growing number of candidates.
He added that the university management approved about 300 benches, while the JUPEB management provided improved lighting, conveniences, a standby generator and more than 16 CCTV cameras and monitoring screens to strengthen examination monitoring and security.
Prof. Akunne expressed optimism that the planned relocation of the programme to Mbaukwu community would further improve learning and accommodation facilities.
He commended the JUPEB team for its commitment and cooperation, describing UNIZIK’s programme as one of the leading JUPEB centres among the more than 140 universities running the scheme in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the JUPEB Lagos Headquarters Team Lead, Prof. Lawrence Olusola Ige, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination, praising the candidates for their discipline and commended the university for its hospitality and support.
Prof. Ige further disclosed that applications were ongoing for the 2026/2027 JUPEB programme at UNIZIK.
He explained that the one-year programme offers successful candidates an opportunity to gain Direct Entry admission into UNIZIK and other JUPEB-affiliated universities.
Nkiru Anakor is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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