The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has issued a strong advisory to prospective candidates ahead of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry registration, urging them to verify the accuracy of their National Identification Number details before initiating profile creation to avoid complications that could jeopardise their admission prospects.
The warning, contained in the board’s weekly bulletin published on its official website on Monday, underscores growing concerns over data inconsistencies that have previously disrupted the examination process for thousands of candidates across the country.
JAMB, Nigeria’s sole examination body responsible for conducting entrance examinations into tertiary institutions, has in recent years strengthened its verification protocols as part of broader efforts to eliminate multiple registrations, identity fraud, and other irregularities that have long plagued the admission system.
“Candidates are strongly advised to first verify that their National Identification Number details are accurate and correctly captured before initiating profile creation,” the board stated in the bulletin.
“Incorrect NIN information could result in avoidable challenges during registration and the examination process.”
The advisory comes amid the ongoing integration of the National Identity Management Commission’s database with JAMB’s registration platform, a measure introduced to enhance the credibility of the examination system and ensure that candidates’ biodata aligns with national identity records.
The NIN, a unique 11-digit number issued by NIMC, has become a critical requirement for accessing government services, including education, and serves as the primary means of identifying Nigerian citizens and legal residents.
Since the Federal Government made NIN mandatory for UTME registration in 2020, the examination board has recorded significant reductions in cases of impersonation and multiple registrations, which were previously widespread. However, mismatches between candidates’ NIN records and the information they provide during registration have emerged as a recurring source of frustration, often leading to disqualification or delays in processing results.
According to JAMB, registration for the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry could commence at any time, and candidates are encouraged to use the pre-registration period to ensure their personal information is correct and consistent across all relevant databases.
The board’s statement also highlighted the limited scope for data corrections once registration has been completed, a policy designed to discourage carelessness and reduce the administrative burden associated with processing correction requests.
“Opportunities to correct personal data are limited, due to issues often associated with correction windows,” JAMB stated.
“Candidates are therefore advised to take personal responsibility for the accuracy of their details from the start, as not all requests for corrections may be accommodated.”
Direct Entry, which allows candidates who possess advanced level qualifications such as the National Diploma, NCE, or A-Level certificates to gain admission into 200-level university programmes, has also been integrated into JAMB’s centralised platform since 2017. Previously managed separately by individual institutions, the DE process is now subject to the same stringent verification standards as UTME.
The examination board’s insistence on data accuracy reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s education sector towards digitalisation and accountability. In recent years, JAMB has introduced several technological innovations, including the Central Admissions Processing System, which eliminated direct admission by institutions and centralised all offers through a transparent, merit-based platform.
The board has also deployed biometric verification systems at examination centres nationwide to curb malpractice and ensure that only registered candidates sit for the examination.
Despite these reforms, challenges remain. Poor internet connectivity in rural areas, delays in NIN issuance by NIMC, and discrepancies in name spellings or dates of birth between school records and NIN databases continue to affect candidates, particularly those from underserved communities.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly called for greater coordination between JAMB, NIMC, and secondary schools to address these systemic gaps and ensure that candidates are not unfairly penalised for errors beyond their control.
JAMB concluded its advisory by calling for the cooperation of all candidates to ensure a smooth and transparent 2026 UTME and Direct Entry registration exercise, emphasising that adherence to verification protocols is essential for the integrity of the admission process.
The 2026 examination cycle is expected to attract over two million candidates, based on trends from previous years, making it one of the largest annual academic exercises in sub-Saharan Africa.
