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…urge candidates to expect more IT-driven innovations
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it will introduce a pre-registration mobile application and enhanced biometric verification ahead of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for the purpose of improving candidates’ registration experience and curb examination malpractice.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja after a five-kilometre fitness walk organised for the board’s staff as part of preparations for the 2027 UTME.
Aina said the proposed application would enable prospective candidates to complete preliminary registration processes from the comfort of their homes before visiting accredited centres for actual registration.
He explained that the application would allow candidates to retrieve their personal information from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), enter their biodata, select preferred subjects, courses and institutions ahead of the examination.
He said the platform would also provide useful academic guidance, including information on the previous year’s entry marks for their preferred courses, to help candidates make informed decisions.
“There are a lot of innovations that are coming up. Now we are rolling out what we are calling a pre-registration application. It’s a mobile application that allows the candidate from the comfort of his or her home, to get details from NIMC, register with biodata, select subjects, courses, institution of choice,” he said.
The Registrar added that the application would reduce waiting time at registration centres, particularly during biometric capture, as candidates would have completed much of the preliminary process before arriving.
He also disclosed that JAMB would introduce a system that would make it technically impossible for candidates to proceed with registration if they selected incorrect subject combinations for their intended courses.
“Before now, you could potentially make wrong subject choices for the course you intend to do. We are going to make that technically impossible, which means you cannot progress with your application if the subject combination is wrong,” he said.
On examination security, Aina said the board would strengthen biometric verification during the actual examination to prevent impersonation, malpractice and other irregularities.
He explained that although JAMB had made some concessions to reduce the difficulties candidates experience, particularly regarding changes to their biodata, stronger verification measures would be introduced at examination centres to protect the integrity of the process.
The Registrar further announced plans to introduce a feature that would allow candidates to report questions they consider faulty during the examination.
He said the information gathered would enable the board to investigate reported questions and ensure that candidates were properly assessed.
Aina also said candidates would have the opportunity to rate their Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres after their examinations. “The feedback mechanism would promote accountability among CBT centre operators and improve service delivery, while reaffirming the board’s commitment to maintaining high standards in its partnership with the centres,” he said.
The Registrar said the initiatives were among several technology-driven innovations being developed to make the 2027 UTME more efficient, transparent and candidate-friendly.
