2024 UTME: Applicants face challenges over NIN details

Few days after the commencement of the sale of forms for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), prospective applicants have expressed frustration over their inability to link their telephone lines with their National Identification Number (NIN) or ‘incorrect’ information contained in their NIN details.

To address issues of malpractice and impersonation during examination, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had mandated prospective candidates to use their NIN for the application process.

But following complaints of inability to link their details and generate electronic pins for registration since the exercise kicked off on January 15, the examination body said it has scheduled a meeting with the leadership of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

An applicant, Sophia Ikoku, said she could not generate the required profile code for registration “even after following the instructions, and repeating the processes many times.”

Similarly, a parent, Kole Opatola, said the information supplied for his daughter by NIMC is at variance with what was provided at the registration point.

The local government area for her state of origin provided during her NIN registration is quite different from what we found at the point of registration. Her date of birth is 25th, but we saw 23rd. We are aware changing such requires as much as N15,000 and takes time to effect,” Opatola said.

“These children shouldn’t be made to face this kind of crisis because they are seeking admission into tertiary institutions. Things ought to have improved better than this mess we now face,” another parent, who identified herself as Peace Ogunlade, stated.

The situation was the same in most of the centres visited as applicants complained of inability to link their details,Concerned with the development, the examination body has scheduled a meeting with NIMC to discuss the development and see how it can be addressed.

JAMB’s head of public affairs, Fabian Benjamin, said the body is surprised by the volume of complaints from applicants and parents. He, however, advised applicants who observe incorrect details in their NIN records to halt their UTME registration until the information is updated and corrected by NIMC.