JAMB Introduces NIN Data Alignment Service to Free Stranded Graduates

Thousands of Nigerian graduates who have waited years to join the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) could soon get relief as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) prepares to launch a service to correct mismatches in their personal records.

The new service will allow eligible candidates to align their biodata with details linked to their National Identification Number (NIN), removing a major obstacle to their participation in the national service scheme.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, announced the initiative in Abuja while receiving a delegation from Veritas University, Abuja, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Professor Hyacinth Ichoku.

Aina said the board had identified graduates who completed their university education four or five years ago but remained unable to enrol for NYSC because of discrepancies between their JAMB records and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) data.

He estimated that thousands of graduates could benefit from the intervention, which forms part of efforts to make the board’s services more accessible.

“I am pleased to announce that today we will be formally launching an NIN alignment service that will allow candidates to change their biodata to match their official identity and that will unlock the possibility of NYSC for thousands of people,” he said.

The registrar said his administration was using technology to address administrative problems that had frustrated candidates and disrupted their academic progression.

He added that JAMB had also introduced provisions for candidates who lost access to their registered email addresses or telephone numbers to update their details and continue transactions with the board.

In the past, such difficulties could prevent candidates from accessing essential services, leaving them struggling to resolve issues with their records.

Aina also urged universities to cooperate with JAMB in regularising admissions, particularly where institutions admitted students outside the approved Central Admissions Processing System.

He warned that such candidates could face serious documentation problems even after completing their programmes because JAMB might not recognise their admissions.

The registrar said the consequences could extend beyond graduation, affecting young people’s eligibility for national service and other opportunities that require proper academic documentation.

“The responsibility entrusted to you is a big one. It is not just one person that you tell to go away and come back; it is a life that can be destroyed by the work that you do,” he said.

Aina urged university administrators to work with the board to ensure that institutions process admissions through the approved channels and resolve discrepancies before they affect students’ futures.

Beyond the NIN alignment initiative, he disclosed that JAMB was considering changes to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to incorporate life skills and critical-thinking assessments.

The proposed reform would give universities additional criteria for evaluating applicants instead of relying mainly on conventional academic scores.

Aina said the board had set up a committee to examine how the new components could fit into the examination and support admission decisions.

He argued that candidates should have opportunities to demonstrate practical abilities, reasoning skills and other competencies relevant to their chosen courses.

According to him, the proposed system could help universities identify applicants whose performance in critical thinking and life skills justified admission, even when their UTME scores fell slightly below the usual cut-off marks.

“We should be able to find institutions that will say our cut-off for this course is 200, but we will take 190 if you score over 80 per cent in the critical-thinking and life-skills component of the examination,” he said.

The registrar noted that some candidates might not excel in conventional examinations but could demonstrate other abilities that made them suitable for higher education.

He said the proposal would encourage institutions to assess applicants more broadly and recognise competencies that a single examination might not fully capture.

However, he stressed that JAMB would need to work with tertiary institutions to ensure that any additional assessment components supported fair and effective admission decisions.

Aina said his administration would focus on improving existing policies rather than introducing disruptive changes that could create further difficulties for candidates.

He added that the board would continue to develop technology-driven solutions to reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve the experience of students and graduates.

Earlier, Ichoku congratulated Aina on his appointment and pledged Veritas University’s cooperation with JAMB.

He said the delegation visited to welcome the registrar and express the university’s support for his national assignment.

Ichoku also informed Aina about the forthcoming Pan-African University Debating Championship, which Veritas University is hosting with the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Education. He invited the registrar to attend the event.

The vice-chancellor said the university’s students had continued to excel in national and international competitions, particularly in sports, debating and technological innovation.

He attributed their achievements to the institution’s commitment to developing talent and equipping students with skills that would help them compete beyond the classroom.

The meeting provided an opportunity for both institutions to discuss cooperation on admissions and broader efforts to improve the Nigerian higher education system.