INEC Offers JAMB Biometric Technology

ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered to support the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with biometric verification technology to strengthen the integrity of the Board’s examination processes.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the offer on Friday when JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Amupitan commended JAMB’s statutory responsibilities, describing the Board as central to national development and the advancement of Nigerian youths.

He said INEC’s recent electoral engagements had demonstrated its growing technological capacity, citing the Anambra and Ekiti governorship elections, the Osun governorship election, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election and various bye-elections conducted across the country.

According to him, observers, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the United Kingdom High Commission, had commended the credibility and peaceful conduct of the elections.

Amupitan directed INEC’s Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Dr Lawrence Bayode, to review JAMB’s request through a proof-of-concept assessment.

He said the assessment would determine the availability, technical condition and suitability of INEC’s biometric verification equipment for possible deployment by JAMB.

The INEC chairman described the visit as evidence of growing synergy among government agencies and stressed the importance of collaboration and the sharing of expertise and resources for national development.

He assured the delegation that the Commission would explore further areas of cooperation with JAMB.

Earlier, Aina said JAMB approached INEC as a sister agency with proven experience in biometric verification technology.

He said the Board was seeking to strengthen the integrity of its examination processes through improved biometric verification systems.

Aina said JAMB understood that INEC had biometric verification machines that might no longer be actively deployed.

He appealed to the Commission to consider making the equipment available to support JAMB’s efforts to enhance its verification systems.

Aina appreciated the INEC chairman and management for the warm reception accorded his delegation.

The meeting was attended by INEC National Commissioner for Outreach and Partnerships, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu-Zuru; INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola; and other officials of the Commission.