The Independent National Electoral Commission has offered to support the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board with biometric verification technology as both agencies move to deepen inter-agency collaboration.
The offer was made on Friday when the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, led members of the Board’s management team on a courtesy visit to the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Aina said JAMB approached INEC because of the commission’s extensive experience in deploying biometric technology to identify and verify large numbers of Nigerians.
He said the Board was seeking to strengthen the integrity of its examination processes and had learnt that INEC had biometric verification equipment that might no longer be in active use.
“We approached INEC as a sister agency with considerable experience in the deployment of biometric technology for the identification and verification of large numbers of Nigerians.”
The JAMB registrar appealed to the commission to consider making some of the equipment available to the Board to support its efforts to improve biometric verification during examinations.
Responding, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, welcomed the delegation and commended JAMB for its statutory responsibilities, describing it as a critical institution in Nigeria’s education system and youth development.
Amupitan said INEC’s recent electoral engagements, including the Anambra and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and various bye-elections, had demonstrated the commission’s growing technological capacity.
According to him, the deployment of technology in the recent elections had earned commendations from stakeholders, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the United Kingdom High Commission, particularly regarding the credibility and peaceful conduct of the exercises.
The INEC chairman subsequently directed the Director of Information and Communications Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, to review JAMB’s request and conduct a proof-of-concept assessment.
He said the assessment would determine the availability, technical condition and suitability of any biometric verification equipment that could potentially be deployed by JAMB.
Amupitan described the visit as evidence of the growing importance of collaboration among government agencies.
“The visit reflects the growing importance of inter-agency collaboration, and government institutions must leverage their expertise and resources to advance national development.”
He assured the JAMB delegation that the commission remained open to exploring other areas of cooperation that could strengthen the capacity of both institutions.
“INEC remains willing to explore further areas of cooperation that can strengthen the capacity of both institutions to deliver on their respective mandates.”
Aina thanked the INEC chairman and management for the reception accorded him and his team.
He reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration with INEC, particularly in leveraging technology to improve the integrity, efficiency and credibility of the Board’s examination processes.
