The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified its position on the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Direct Entry (DE) as regards the National Identify Number (NIN).

The board has stated that it does not necessarily require the National Identify Card as pre-requisite for the registration of candidates for the examination but rather the 11-digit National Identification Number which will be instantly issued to candidates at point of registration.

According to Dr. Yusuf Lawal, Director, Test Administration Department of JAMB gave the clarification in a statement signed on behalf of Professor Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar of the Board, the statement is coming against the misconceptions in among some candidates and their parents on the delay being experienced in the issuance of the card by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the insistence by JAMB on the usage of NIN.

In the clarification, Dr Lawal stated that: “Please note that the NIN is the unique 11 non-intelligible numbers that would be issued to an enrolee instantly on completion of enrolment.

“It is not necessarily the national identity card.”

The statement reads in full thus:

“In line with the Federal Government directive that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) should be the primary data collection agency for all persons covered by the Commission’s enabling Act, and coupled with the need to give a boost to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s efforts at eliminating multiplicities of identities with their attendant intricacies and susceptibilities to fraudulent and corrupt practices, the Board has decided that all prospective candidates and examination officials (both permanent and adhoc) for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) would require the unique National Identification Number (NIN) issued by NIMC for registration and participation in examination and in all exercises relating to the Board activities requiring personal data.

“Consequent upon this development, it is MANDATORY for all applicants/candidates for the UTME and DE (commencing from 2020) and any person who has anything to do with the process (adhoc and routine staff) to have their NIN, as the personal data already elicited and captured by NIMC would be the same details that would be used by the Board for the purpose of application, identification, verification, examination, admission, matriculation, graduation and mobilisation for service. The Board would NOT request for any other personal data from any applicant/candidate and officials. These personal details include names, date of birth, gender, addresses, photograph, biometric, etc. Therefore, all applicants/candidates, parents, guardians, teachers and all stakeholders should ensure that the personal details of every individual concerned are captured correctly on the NIMC database.

“In the same vein, all members of staff of the Board and Adhoc examination officials are reminded that their NIN would be required for participation in the administration of the Board’s examination and in all activities requiring personal data. (Daily Independent)

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