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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unmasked 4,251 cases of finger blending, 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, 1,878 false declarations of albinism, and numerous cases of credential forgery, multiple NIN registrations, and solicitation schemes.
These were contained in a report of a Special Committee on Examination Infractions (SCEI), submitted to the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Monday.
The committee inaugurated on August 18, were charged with a solemn mandate: to investigate, review, and recommend measures to address the growing and dangerous menace of technologically-enabled examination malpractice in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Jake Epelle, noted that examination malpractice has evolved into a highly organized, technology-driven, and culturally normalized enterprise.
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To restore integrity to Nigeria’s admission system, the committee proposed a multi-layered framework built on detection, deterrence, and prevention. “We need to deploy AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, dual verification systems, real-time monitoring, and a National Examination Security Operations Centre.” He advocated a deterrence measure which include the cancellation of results of candidates confirmed to be involved in fraudulent activities, and in addition to that impose a ban of 1–3 years, prosecute both candidates and their collaborators, and create a Central Sanctions Registry accessible to institutions and employers.
He advocated a strengthened mobile-first self-service platform, digitise correction workflows, tighten disability verification, and ban bulk school-led registrations. “Amend the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to recognize biometric and digital fraud, and provide for a Legal Unit within JAMB.
“Launch a nationwide Integrity First campaign, embed ethics into curricula, and enforce parental accountability. For under-18 offenders, apply rehabilitative measures under the Child Rights Act, with a focus on counselling and supervised re-registration.”
The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, thanked the committee for their efforts and recommendations, assuring that their recommendations would be properly treated.
