The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled findings from its Special Committee on Examination Infractions (SCEI), highlighting how advanced technological methods are compromising the integrity of Nigeria’s admission procedures.
During a presentation in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Jake Epelle, Chairman of the Committee, reported to JAMB Registrar Professor Is-haq Oloyede that their investigation into the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) revealed 4,251 incidents of “finger blending” and 190 cases involving AI-driven impersonation through sophisticated image manipulation.
Established on August 18, 2025, the committee was charged with examining the surge in examination violations, evaluating JAMB’s operational frameworks, and proposing strategic reforms.
Dr. Epelle emphasized that this mission transcended routine administration, framing it as a patriotic duty and a crucial battle to preserve meritocracy within Nigeria’s educational landscape.
In addition to the identified finger blending and AI impersonation, the committee uncovered 1,878 fraudulent disability claims, falsified academic documents, multiple registrations using the same National Identification Number (NIN), and collusion between candidates and examination fraud networks.
Epelle highlighted that malpractice has evolved into a sophisticated, technology-fueled enterprise that has become alarmingly normalized. He pointed out that parents, coaching centers, educational institutions, and even some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers have been complicit, while inadequate legal provisions hinder effective enforcement.
To restore credibility in the admissions process, the committee recommended a comprehensive strategy involving the integration of AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, continuous real-time surveillance, and the establishment of a centralized Examination Security Operations Centre.
Further suggestions included annulling fraudulent examination results, enforcing bans ranging from one to three years, prosecuting offenders and their accomplices, and creating a Central Sanctions Registry accessible to academic institutions and employers alike.
Preventative measures proposed by the panel encompassed digitizing the correction of examination records, enhancing verification protocols for disability claims, tightening security on mobile-first registration platforms, and prohibiting mass registrations orchestrated by schools.
The committee also advocated for legislative updates, urging amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to explicitly address biometric and digital fraud, alongside the formation of a dedicated Legal Unit within JAMB.
Recognizing the cultural dimensions of the issue, the panel called for a nationwide Integrity First initiative, the integration of ethical education into school curricula, and increased parental responsibility in curbing malpractice.
For candidates under 18 years old found guilty of infractions, the committee recommended rehabilitative approaches under the Child Rights Act, including counseling and monitored re-registration, rather than punitive measures.
Dr. Epelle cautioned that without swift and decisive reforms, the trustworthiness of Nigeria’s education system faces further deterioration.
“Unchecked examination malpractice threatens to erode merit, diminish public confidence, and undermine the very foundation of Nigeria’s educational and human capital development,” he warned.
