“Therefore all critical stakeholders are advised to cooperate, collaborate, support and assist the board in this direction,’’ he said.

He said the optional Mock Examination would hold from Jan. 22 to 24, 2018.

“Only candidates, who register by Dec. 31, 2017 and who have expressed interest for the examination would be eligible for the optional mock examination.

“The number of days for the examination varies from one to three days and this will be dependent on the number of candidates who show interest and the number of CBT centres in the examination town of candidates, who express interest in the mock examination.’’

Oloyede added that in the 2018 UTME, the board would introduce Electronic Jammers at all CBT centres ‎as part of measures to ensure that the integrity of the test was maintained.

He said the board had met with the proprietors of CBT centres to review the 2017 exercise and plan for the 2018 UTME.

“Management has directed the state coordinators to visit the CBT centres in their states to carry out preliminary accreditation exercise.

“The results of the different levels of inspection and accreditation would form the basis of choosing centres that would participate in the 2018 exercise.”

He stated that so far, no fewer than 620 centres had been pencilled down as CBT centres.

According to him, the centres will undergo further scrutiny to make them eligible for the examination‎ and not just to register candidates.

The registrar said the purpose of the meeting was to seek and incorporate all shades of opinions to add value to the board’s plan and programme.

Stakeholders at the meeting include the National Assembly, educational institutions and regulatory agencies, CBT centres, parents, teachers, candidates, labour, NANS, civil society and media.