2024 UTME: Applicants Encounter Challenges Over NIN Details
In the wake of the initiation of the sale of forms for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), prospective applicants find themselves grappling with frustrations stemming from difficulties in linking their telephone lines with their National Identification Number (NIN) and encountering what they perceive as ‘incorrect’ information in their NIN details.
To curb issues of malpractice and impersonation during the examination process, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) mandated prospective candidates to utilize their NIN for the application process. However, since the commencement of the registration process on January 15, applicants have lodged complaints regarding their inability to link details and generate electronic pins for registration.
In response to these challenges, JAMB has announced a scheduled meeting with the leadership of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to address the issues at hand. One frustrated applicant, Sophia Ikoku, voiced her struggles in generating the required profile code for registration despite following the instructions diligently.
Similarly, parent Kole Opatola highlighted disparities in the information provided by NIMC for his daughter, stating, “Her date of birth is 25th, but we saw 23rd. We are aware changing such requires as much as N15,000 and takes time to effect.” Another concerned parent, Peace Ogunlade, expressed dismay, asserting, “These children shouldn’t be made to face this kind of crisis because they are seeking admission into tertiary institutions. Things ought to have improved better than this mess we now face.”
Visits to various registration centers revealed a consistent trend of applicants grappling with the inability to link their details. In response to the escalating situation, JAMB’s head of public affairs, Fabian Benjamin, expressed surprise at the volume of complaints from applicants and parents. Benjamin, however, advised applicants to suspend their UTME registration if they identify incorrect details in their NIN records until the information is updated and corrected by NIMC. The examination body is determined to engage in dialogue with NIMC to find a resolution to the challenges faced by applicants during the registration process.
Credit: The guardian