The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to implement facial biometric verification for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This initiat
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to implement facial biometric verification for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This initiative is part of a broader series of reforms introduced by the recently appointed Registrar, Professor Segun Aina.
According to JAMB’s weekly bulletin released on August 31, 2026, this development marks a significant shift in how candidates’ identities are verified during the examination process, following the introduction of Computer-Based Testing.
With this new system, cameras at the Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres will capture each candidate’s facial image during the exam. This image will then be transmitted to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) via a dedicated application, which will quickly generate a confirmation code to verify the candidate’s identity.
JAMB has indicated that this process takes less than a second under optimal conditions and does not require any special equipment, making use of standard cameras already installed in computers and tablets at the examination venues.
JAMB This upgrade is a direct response to ongoing issues with the existing fingerprint-based verification system. JAMB has acknowledged that challenges such as dirty, wet, or worn fingers have frequently caused errors, leading to significant delays, heightened anxiety among candidates, and, in some cases, the rescheduling of examination sittings.
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The contactless nature of facial recognition eliminates these issues, enhancing the overall examination experience. Furthermore, this method offers a hygiene advantage by reducing the risk of germ transmission, as it eliminates the need for shared contact with fingerprint scanners.
In terms of security, facial verification significantly strengthens the integrity of the identification process, addressing concerns about impersonation. Candidates attempting to impersonate others will find it much more difficult, as live camera images will be matched in real time against NIMC’s national identity database.
What changes for JAMB candidates, and whenJAMB will not immediately eliminate fingerprint scanning. Instead, it will continue using the current ten-fingerprint system alongside a new facial verification process for now. This approach allows CBT centres to adjust and gives JAMB time to address any integration challenges with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
In the next two to three years, JAMB plans for facial verification to eventually replace both fingerprint authentication and One-Time Passwords. This change aims to streamline the verification process for candidates on exam day.
It addresses the common stress of having fingerprints rejected at scanners, especially after a long journey to an exam centre. With the new camera-based system, identity confirmation will take less than a second and doesn’t require touch.
This announcement comes as JAMB works to recover from the technical issues that affected the 2026 UTME cycle in April. Since becoming registrar earlier this year, Professor Aina has emphasised that technology reform will be a key focus of his leadership.
Also read: Tinubu appoints 39-year-old Professor Segun Aina as new JAMB registrar
