By Patience Olumati
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has inaugurated a Special Committee on Examination Infractions, as part of renewed efforts to combat rising cases of examination malpractice across the country.
During the inauguration in Abuja, the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, stated that the integrity of Nigeria’s education system is at risk, as candidates and some Computer-Based Test centers are using increasingly advanced methods to cheat.
Professor Oloyede revealed that in 2025, the board discovered unusual and tech-driven infractions. These included image blending, where candidates combined their photos with impersonators; false albinism claims to evade biometric capture; and fingerprint sharing, allowing multiple candidates to use combined fingerprints to access exams.
He also mentioned that more than 6,458 results have been held back for further investigation, and 1,873 candidates identifying asinos were uncovered.
Professor Oloyede emphasized that although traditional malpractices persist, emerging trends now pose a serious threat to the integrity of public examinations and, consequently, the future of education in Nigeria.
The Registrar, emphasizing the committee’s scope of reference, urged its members to submit their report promptly to ensure that deserving candidates are not unfairly denied admission as the 2025 admissions window approaches.
” Its mandate includes all the cases of image blending, finger blending, false claim of albinism and result falsification in the 2025 examination, identify the methods, patterns, tools, and technologies used to perpetrate this infraction, review current examination and registration policies and recommend improvements, determine the culpability or otherwise of each of the 6,458 suspected candidates whose results, excluding the albinism group, are still being withheld.” The Registrar stated.
Other recommendations include suitable disciplinary actions or sanctions against individuals or groups found culpable, suggesting a proactive framework for detecting, deterring, and preventing technologically enabled examination fraud in future exercises, and advising on issues incidental or related to these matters.
Professor Oloyede reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to justice, accountability, and equal opportunity for all candidates, regardless of ability or disability.
The Chairman of the Committee and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, thanked the board for the opportunity to serve and promised to deliver on the assignment
The 23-member Special Committee on Examination Infractions has three weeks to submit its report.
The committee members include Prof. Muhammad Bello, Prof. Samuel Odewummi, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, Prof. Ibe Ifeakandu, retired Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, Dr. Chuks Okpaka from Microsoft Africa, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students.
Represented are the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, among others.
Editing by Nelia Adione, Adeniyi Bakare, and Binta Nuan
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