From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated its readiness to assist the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with biometric verification technology as part of efforts to deepen collaboration between the two agencies.
This was contained in a Commission bulletin issued to journalists in Abuja following a courtesy visit by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, and members of his management team to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Speaking during the visit, Prof. Aina said his team had approached INEC as a sister agency with proven experience in biometric verification, noting that JAMB was seeking to strengthen the integrity of its examination processes.
He said JAMB understood that INEC possessed biometric verification machines that might no longer be in active use and appealed to the Commission to consider making the equipment available to support JAMB’s efforts to enhance its verification systems.
Responding, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, welcomed the JAMB delegation and commended the Board’s statutory role in national development, describing it as central to the education and advancement of Nigerian youths.
The INEC Chairman was joined in receiving the delegation by the National Commissioner in charge of Outreach and Partnerships, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu-Zuru; the Directors of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Human Resources Management, and Voter Education and Publicity (VEP); as well as the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
Prof. Amupitan cited the Commission’s recent conduct of the Anambra election, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as bye-elections across the country, as evidence of INEC’s growing technological capacity.
He noted that the elections were widely commended by observers, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the United Kingdom High Commission, for their credibility and peaceful conduct.
The INEC Chairman directed the Commission’s Director of ICT to review JAMB’s request and determine, through a proof-of-concept assessment, the availability and suitability of INEC’s biometric verification equipment for possible use by JAMB.
Prof. Amupitan described the visit as a reflection of the growing synergy between government agencies, stressing the importance of institutions working together to advance national development.
He assured the JAMB delegation of the Commission’s willingness to explore further areas of cooperation between the two agencies.
Prof. Aina, in turn, expressed appreciation to the INEC Chairman and management for the warm reception accorded to his team.
