The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has received a comprehensive report from its Special Committee on Examination Infractions, revealing widespread fraud and technological manipulation during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Committee Chairman Jake Epelle presented the findings to JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede in Abuja, documenting extensive examination malpractices that have evolved to include sophisticated technological methods of cheating.
The investigation uncovered 4,251 cases of “finger blending” and 192 instances of artificial intelligence-assisted impersonation through image morphing techniques, highlighting the increasingly complex nature of examination fraud in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Beyond these technologically advanced cheating methods, the committee documented 1,878 cases of false disability claims, along with numerous instances of forged credentials, multiple national identification number registrations, and organized collusion between candidates and examination syndicates.
The special panel, which was inaugurated on August 18, was specifically tasked with investigating the rising tide of infractions in JAMB examinations, conducting comprehensive reviews of the board’s existing systems, and formulating recommendations for necessary reforms.
Epelle expressed concern about the systematic nature of the fraud, describing examination malpractice as having become “highly organised, technology-driven, and dangerously normalised” within Nigeria’s educational ecosystem. He noted that the sophistication of cheating methods has escalated significantly, requiring equally advanced countermeasures.
The committee’s findings revealed complicity across multiple stakeholders in the education sector, including parents, tutorial centers, schools, and some Computer-Based Test operators who have actively participated in or facilitated fraudulent activities. This widespread involvement has contributed to the normalization of dishonest practices in the examination process.
According to the report, weak legal frameworks have made enforcement of anti-malpractice measures particularly challenging, allowing fraudulent activities to continue with minimal consequences for perpetrators.
To address these systemic issues, the committee has recommended that JAMB implement a comprehensive multi-pronged response strategy. Key recommendations include deploying artificial intelligence-powered biometric anomaly detection tools, establishing real-time monitoring systems, and creating a centralized Examination Security Operations Centre to coordinate anti-fraud efforts.
