The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to implement facial biometric verification for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The initiative forms 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, the development marks a significant shift in how candidates' identities are verified during the examination process, following the introduction of Computer-Based Testing.

Under the new system, cameras at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres will capture each candidate's facial image during the exam. The 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 the process takes less than a second under optimal conditions and does not require any special equipment, as it makes use of standard cameras already installed in computers and tablets at the examination venues.

The 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.

The contactless nature of facial recognition eliminates these issues and enhances the overall examination experience. The method also offers a hygiene advantage by reducing the risk of germ transmission, since it removes 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. The integration builds on Nigeria's existing identity infrastructure, the National Identification Number (NIN) system, which links citizens' biometric and demographic records held by NIMC and has in recent years been progressively tied to public services and examinations.

JAMB will not immediately eliminate fingerprint scanning. Instead, it will continue using the current ten-fingerprint system alongside the 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).

Within the next two to three years, JAMB plans for facial verification to eventually replace both fingerprint authentication and One-Time Passwords. The 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 does not require touch.

The 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. The stakes are considerable: the UTME is sat by well over a million candidates each year, making any verification change a large-scale logistical undertaking across hundreds of CBT centres nationwide. How smoothly the NIMC integration performs in practice during live sittings is likely to shape the rollout timeline JAMB has set for fully replacing fingerprints and One-Time Passwords.