The Federal Government has directed public examination bodies to include three unique identifiers—National Identification Number (NIN), Date of Birth, and a photograph embossed on each certificate issued to successful candidates.
Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, announced the directive on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of a committee tasked with transitioning examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), among others, from paper-based formats to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) within three years.
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Dr Alausa disclosed that the government aims to fully implement Computer-Based Testing by 2027 as part of efforts to enhance the quality and integrity of examinations through technology adoption.
He emphasised that the inclusion of NIN, Date of Birth, and photographs on certificates would play a significant role in tackling identity theft and other malpractices plaguing the education sector.
“It is unfortunate that parents, teachers, school principals, and proprietors collude to aid examination malpractices,” Alausa said. He called on the newly inaugurated committee to address the entire ecosystem of examinations, which, he noted, has multiple actors contributing to malpractice.
The committee, chaired by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Is-haq Oloyede, was given until June to submit its report. The Minister outlined six terms of reference, including eliminating examination leakages, curbing identity theft, transitioning to CBT, addressing candidate swapping, enhancing supervision quality, and developing robust guidelines for supervisors.
“We are planning that in the next three years, all our exams will be computer-based. By 2027, that is our target, and we will work diligently to make it a reality. We must use technology to safeguard the integrity of our examinations,” the Minister stated.
He directed examination bodies to implement the three identifiers—NIN, Date of Birth, and embossed photographs—in their next examination cycle, which will take place between May and July this year.
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“By their next exams, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB must ensure these identifiers are included in all certificates issued. This measure will significantly reduce cases of malpractice and identity fraud,” he added.
The Minister also condemned the rising cases of exam fraud and leakages, which he described as a source of national embarrassment, and stressed the importance of eradicating such practices to protect the credibility of Nigeria’s educational system.
The Federal Government noted that it aims to restore confidence in the country’s examination processes while ensuring transparency and accountability.
