JAMB UTME Integrity: INEC Set to Deploy Biometric Verification Technology for Matriculation Exams
In a move to curb examination malpractice, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is planning to deploy its advanced biometric verification technology to support the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The inter-agency partnership aims to strengthen candidate authentication and tighten the overall integrity of Nigeria’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) framework.
The initiative was made public following a strategic courtesy visit by the JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, alongside his management team, to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Why JAMB is Partnering with INEC
Speaking during the visit, Professor Aina explained that JAMB is tapping into INEC’s extensive infrastructure due to the electoral umpire’s unmatched experience in managing large-scale biometric technology nationwide.
The JAMB boss formally requested that the commission consider releasing surplus or inactive biometric verification equipment to boost the tech capacity of the examination body. This shared resource strategy is expected to eliminate identity theft and impersonation during tertiary matriculation exams.
INEC Feasibility Assessment Support
Responding to the proposal, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan commended JAMB for its pivotal role in regulating Nigeria’s education sector. He directed the Commission’s Head of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to review the request.
The ICT department has been tasked with running a swift proof-of-concept assessment. The technical evaluation will determine the condition, compatibility, and suitability of INEC’s available biometric hardware for seamless integration into JAMB’s existing systems.
Professor Amupitan highlighted that INEC’s technological robust capabilities have been continuously validated during recent off-cycle governorship elections and local council polls, earning praise from international partners and security agencies for credibility.
He emphasized that leveraging shared technical expertise and physical assets between federal institutions remains a vital strategy for driving national development and reducing government spending.
