By Julius Peter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness to support the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with biometric verification technology, in a move aimed at strengthening the integrity of examination processes and deepening collaboration between two key federal institutions.
The development followed a courtesy visit by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, and members of the Board’s management team to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Friday, September 4, 2026.
The proposed collaboration would see INEC assess the availability and technical suitability of some of its biometric verification equipment for possible use by JAMB, particularly as the examination body continues to explore ways of improving candidate identification and verification.
Speaking during the visit, Aina said JAMB approached INEC because of the Commission’s extensive experience in deploying biometric technology to identify and verify large numbers of Nigerians during electoral processes.
According to him, JAMB was interested in leveraging the expertise and technological experience of the electoral body to further strengthen the credibility of its examinations.
He said the Board had learnt that INEC possessed some biometric verification equipment that might no longer be in active use and appealed to the Commission to consider making some of the equipment available to JAMB.
Aina explained that such support would complement JAMB’s ongoing efforts to enhance biometric verification and safeguard the integrity of its examination processes.
The Registrar’s request highlights the growing importance of reliable biometric identification in managing large-scale national exercises where accurate identification of participants is critical.
For JAMB, which conducts examinations involving large numbers of candidates across the country, strengthening identity verification is central to efforts to prevent impersonation, examination malpractice and other forms of abuse of the admission process.
Receiving the delegation, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, welcomed the JAMB management team and commended the Board for its statutory responsibilities in Nigeria’s education sector.
Amupitan described JAMB as a critical institution in the country’s educational system and an important contributor to the development of Nigerian youths.
The INEC Chairman said the Commission was willing to examine areas where its technological capabilities and institutional experience could be deployed to support other government agencies in the national interest.
He noted that INEC’s recent electoral engagements had provided the Commission with further opportunities to demonstrate and improve its technological capacity.
Among the exercises he referenced were the Anambra and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as bye-elections conducted in different parts of the country.
According to Amupitan, the deployment of technology during the recent elections had attracted commendations from stakeholders, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the United Kingdom High Commission.
He said the commendations, particularly those relating to the credibility and peaceful conduct of the elections, reflected the increasing role of technology in strengthening electoral processes.
In response to JAMB’s request, Amupitan directed the Director of Information and Communications Technology, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, to review the Board’s proposal.
The Director was specifically tasked with undertaking a proof-of-concept assessment to determine the availability, technical condition and suitability of any biometric verification equipment that could potentially be deployed by JAMB.
The assessment is expected to establish whether equipment that may no longer be required for INEC’s current operations can be repurposed effectively for JAMB’s needs.
The proof-of-concept exercise would also help determine the extent to which existing INEC technology can meet JAMB’s operational and technical requirements before any further decisions are taken.
The Chairman’s directive therefore represents an initial step towards determining the feasibility of the proposed technology-sharing arrangement.
Amupitan described the visit as an example of the growing importance of collaboration among government institutions, particularly at a time when agencies are being encouraged to maximise existing resources and expertise.
He stressed the need for public institutions to leverage their respective capabilities in pursuit of broader national development objectives.
Rather than operating in isolation, the Chairman said government agencies could achieve greater efficiency by sharing knowledge, experience and resources where appropriate.
He assured the JAMB delegation that INEC remained willing to explore additional areas of cooperation that could strengthen the institutional capacity of both organisations and enable them to deliver more effectively on their respective mandates.
The proposed partnership between INEC and JAMB could consequently extend beyond the immediate question of biometric equipment, opening the door for broader technical and institutional cooperation between the two agencies.
In his response, Aina expressed appreciation to the INEC Chairman and members of the Commission’s management for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation.
He reaffirmed JAMB’s interest in strengthening institutional collaboration with INEC and indicated the Board’s willingness to work with the Commission in exploring practical areas of mutual support.
The visit underscored the shared interest of the two agencies in using technology and institutional expertise to improve the delivery of their respective mandates.
While INEC is primarily responsible for the conduct and management of elections, JAMB oversees the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and the admission process into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Both agencies, however, operate large-scale national systems that depend heavily on accurate identification, secure data management and efficient verification processes.
The proposed collaboration also reflects a wider shift in Nigeria’s public sector towards greater use of technology in the delivery of government services.
Biometric systems have become increasingly important in establishing the identity of individuals participating in large national programmes. By linking an individual to a unique biometric profile, such systems can help institutions improve authentication, reduce identity-related fraud and strengthen confidence in processes that affect millions of Nigerians.
For JAMB, strengthening biometric verification could provide an additional layer of protection around its examination system, particularly given the scale of its operations and the importance of its examinations to access to tertiary education.
For INEC, the proposed engagement provides an opportunity to explore how existing technological assets and institutional experience can contribute to other areas of national development when they are no longer required, or where they can be repurposed without compromising the Commission’s core responsibilities.
The initiative could therefore serve as an example of how government institutions can collaborate to maximise public resources while promoting innovation and efficiency.
For now, the immediate next step is the assessment ordered by the INEC Chairman. The outcome of the proof-of-concept exercise will determine the availability and suitability of any equipment for JAMB’s intended use.
The meeting nevertheless signals a willingness by both institutions to deepen cooperation, with technology emerging as a major bridge between their respective mandates.
As Nigeria continues to strengthen the use of digital systems in public administration, the proposed INEC-JAMB collaboration could become a practical model for inter-agency resource sharing, technical cooperation and the deployment of existing government capabilities to address challenges across different sectors.
The engagement between the two agencies ultimately underscores a broader principle: that stronger collaboration among public institutions can help Nigeria derive greater value from its technological investments while improving the credibility, efficiency and integrity of critical national processes.
