JAMB introduces facial scan, to phase out fingerprint for UTME

• Says technology’ll curb impersonation, biometric failures

From **Fred Ezeh, **Abuja

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is introducing facial biometric verification for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and will gradually phase out fingerprint authentication in the next two to three years as part of measures to curb impersonation, examination malpractice and persistent biometric verification failures among candidates.

The Board said the new system, which would be implemented in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), would use live facial recognition to establish candidates’ identities before they are allowed to sit for the examination. The development was disclosed in JAMB’s weekly bulletin released on Monday, with the Board describing the transition as another major step towards strengthening candidate identification and tightening security around one of Nigeria’s largest annual public examinations.

Under the new arrangement, candidates would undergo live facial verification through an application, with the result transmitted to NIMC for authentication.

The identity management agency would subsequently return a code to JAMB either affirming or rejecting the candidate’s identity claim.

JAMB said the existing 10-fingerprint biometric format would initially operate alongside the live facial verification system during the transition period. It, however, disclosed that facial verification would eventually replace the use of One-Time Password, while fingerprint verification would be gradually phased out within the next two to three years.

To facilitate the transition, the Board said machinery was already being put in place to ensure that accredited Computer-Based Test centres were equipped with appropriate Closed-Circuit Television cameras and that personnel were adequately trained to operate the system.

JAMB explained that facial biometric verification uses unique facial features to establish a person’s identity and offers some advantages over conventional biometric methods such as fingerprint and iris scanning.

Unlike fingerprint scanners, which require candidates to make physical contact with a scanning pad, facial verification is touchless, requiring candidates only to look into a camera from a short distance.

The Board said the verification could be completed in less than a second and would not require specialised biometric hardware, as it could operate using standard cameras available on smartphones, tablets and computers.

JAMB identified recurring difficulties with fingerprint authentication as another major reason for the transition.

According to the Board, fingerprint scanners could fail where candidates’ fingers are damaged, wet, dirty, greasy or worn from manual work, sometimes leaving genuine candidates unable to establish their identities.

It said such failures had resulted in frustration and anxiety among candidates and, in some instances, anger and violence, as well as the need to reschedule examinations for those who could not be verified.

With facial verification, JAMB said it expected to substantially eliminate cases of candidates being left unverified while strengthening examination security and making impersonation more difficult.

The Board added that the touchless nature of facial verification would have an additional public health benefit by reducing physical contact with shared biometric equipment and consequently limiting the potential spread of microbes in examination centres.

The stronger headline is: “JAMB introduces facial scan, to phase out fingerprints for UTME.” It captures both sides of the transition immediately, while the rider supplies the compelling why — impersonation and biometric failures.

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