As preparations gear up for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially directed all accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria to adopt the Microsoft Camera system for candidate registration.
The decision was reaffirmed during a monitoring visit by the Gombe State Coordinator of JAMB, Mr. Johnson Adebiyi, to the El-Lawanti ICT Centre in Gombe on September 30, 2025. Adebiyi explained that the visit aimed to assess compliance levels ahead of the October 1 deadline for full implementation of the new camera system.
Why JAMB Introduced the Microsoft Camera
According to JAMB, this directive follows a comprehensive review of the 2025 UTME, which exposed several cases of biometric manipulation, impersonation, and image blending during registration.
The adoption of Microsoft Camera, the Board stated, is designed to strengthen identity verification and eliminate all forms of digital malpractice in the registration process.
Adebiyi warned that any CBT centre found defaulting would be delisted and banned from conducting further JAMB-related activities. He encouraged accredited centres to comply promptly, adding that the directive would enhance the Board’s credibility and protect the integrity of national examinations.
He further noted that CBT centres now have broader opportunities under JAMB’s new policy, including handling registration and verification services previously restricted to Professional Registration and Testing Centres (PRTCs).
Findings from the 2025 UTME Review
In August 2025, JAMB inaugurated a 23-member Special Committee on Examination Infractions to investigate technology-based malpractice during the 2025 UTME.
The committee’s report revealed alarming figures:
- 4,251 cases of biometric manipulation (known as finger blending)
- 190 cases of AI-powered image morphing
- 1,878 false albinism declarations
- Several instances of multiple NIN usage and forged credentials
While these infractions mostly occurred during the registration phase, JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede noted that actual cases of malpractice during the main examination were significantly lower about 140 confirmed cases nationwide.
Government Endorses Stricter Sanctions
To curb examination fraud, the Federal Government has approved a three-year ban for any candidate found guilty of malpractice in JAMB, WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB examinations.
The enforcement of this policy will rely heavily on the National Identification Number (NIN), making it nearly impossible for offenders to re-register under fake identities. CBT centres or schools implicated in such offences will also be delisted or derecognised, with other examination bodies expected to apply corresponding sanctions.
Restoring Trust in Nigeria’s Exam System
JAMB’s decision to mandate the use of Microsoft Camera represents another bold step in restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s examination process.
For students, it’s a reminder that credibility outweighs convenience. For CBT operators, it’s a call to uphold professional ethics and transparency in every aspect of their work.
As JAMB continues to modernise its systems and enforce accountability, one message is clear, the era of digital impersonation and examination fraud is coming to an end.
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