JAMB committee uncovers 4,251 cases of tech-driven exam malpractice

By Joseph Erunke

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, says a question of sophisticated, technology-enabled malpractices is threatening the integrity of Nigeria’s admittance process.

This followed the submission of a study by JAMB’s Special Committee connected Examination Infractions,SCEI, presented successful Abuja connected Monday to the Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, by the committee’s chairman, Dr. Jake Epelle.

According to Epelle, the committee uncovered 4,251 cases of “finger blending” and 190 instances of AI-assisted impersonation done representation morphing during investigations into the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

The panel, inaugurated connected August 18, 2025, was tasked with investigating the surge successful exam infractions, assessing JAMB’s systems, and proposing reforms.

Describing the duty arsenic “a motivation obligation, a nationalist service, and a combat for the psyche of meritocracy successful Nigeria,” Epelle said the committee’s findings went beyond method irregularities, revealing that malpractice has go highly organised, technology-driven, and dangerously normalised.

Other infractions identified included 1,878 mendacious disablement claims, forged credentials, aggregate National Identification Number (NIN) registrations, and collusion betwixt candidates and syndicates.

Epelle noted that parents, tutorial centres, schools, and adjacent immoderate CBT operators were complicit, portion anemic ineligible frameworks hampered enforcement.

To reconstruct credibility, the committee recommended a multi-pronged strategy.

The committee recommended the deployment of AI-powered biometric anomaly tools, real-time monitoring, and a cardinal Examination Security Operations Centre, cancellation of fraudulent results, sanctions ranging from one- to three-year bans, prosecution of offenders, and the constitution of a Central Sanctions Registry for institutions and employers and prevention measures specified arsenic digitising correction processes, strengthening disablement verification, tightening mobile-first platforms, and outlawing bulk school-led registrations.

The sheet besides called for ineligible reforms, including amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to screen biometric and integer fraud, arsenic good arsenic the instauration of a Legal Unit wrong JAMB.

On values, it urged a taste reorientation thrust done a nationwide Integrity First campaign, embedding morals successful schoolhouse curricula, and holding parents accountable for aiding malpractice.

For offenders nether 18, the committee recommended rehabilitative measures nether the Child Rights Act, specified arsenic counseling and supervised reintegration, alternatively than punitive sanctions.

Epelle warned that unless urgent reforms are implemented, the credibility of Nigeria’s acquisition strategy could illness further.

“If near unchecked, introspection malpractice volition proceed to erode merit, undermine nationalist trust, and destruct the precise instauration of Nigeria’s acquisition and quality superior development,” helium cautioned.

Vanguard News

The station JAMB committee uncovers 4,251 cases of tech-driven exam malpractice appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.