A special committee set up by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered a concerning wave of sophisticated, technology-enabled exam fraud in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Committee chair Dr. Jake Epelle presented a report on Monday to JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede.
Key findings include:
4,251 instances of “finger blending” — deliberate tampering with fingerprint-based identity checks.
190 cases of AI-assisted impersonation using image morphing to bypass verification systems.
Other notable infractions: 1,878 false disability claims, forged credentials, multiple NIN registrations, and collusion among candidates, syndicates, tutorial centres, schools, and even some CBT operators.
Describing the situation as a “moral obligation” and “a fight for the soul of meritocracy in Nigeria,” Dr. Epelle warned that the surge in such practices reflects a deeply entrenched and normalised challenge
To restore integrity, the committee recommended:
Deployment of AI-based biometric anomaly detection, real-time monitoring, and the creation of a Central Examination Security Operations Centre.
Cancellation of fraudulent results, enforcement of one- to three-year bans, prosecution of offenders, and establishment of a Central Sanctions Registry to flag institutions or individuals.
Legal reforms including amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to specifically criminalise digital and biometric fraud. The creation of a legal unit within JAMB was also urged.
System-wide preventative measures: digitisation of correction processes, stricter disability verification, tightening mobile-first exam platforms, and banning bulk school-led registrations.
Cultural initiatives: embedding ethics in curricula, an “Integrity First” campaign, accountability for parents involved, and rehabilitative measures for minors under the Child Rights Act.
Dr. Epelle concluded with a dire warning: “If left unchecked, examination malpractice will continue to erode merit, undermine public trust, and destroy the very foundation of Nigeria’s education and human capital development.”
