The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed that possession of a National Identification Number (NIN) is “compulsory” for all candidates registering for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB, in its weekly bulletin released on Monday, February 24, 2025, emphasized that obtaining a NIN is the first step for any prospective candidate seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Reiterating this policy, the Ogun State JAMB Coordinator, Hakeem AbdulHameed, stated that “all applicants must obtain their respective National Identification Number (NIN) to be eligible for all operational processes with the board, including admission to either regular or non-regular programmes of any institution of higher learning in Nigeria.”
AbdulHameed made this clarification during a meeting with a delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Abeokuta Study Centre in Ogun State.
The JAMB official explained that the NIN is essential for generating a profile code—a mandatory requirement for UTME registration. He outlined the procedure: candidates must send “NIN” in capital letters, followed by a space and their eleven-digit identification number, via their registered phone number to either of JAMB’s official USSD codes: 55019 or 66019.
According to AbdulHameed, this system is part of JAMB’s security measures to curb examination malpractices and safeguard candidates’ data from fraudulent individuals who exploit personal information for illegal activities.
He further emphasized that “whether regular or non-regular, all admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria must be documented by JAMB.”
During the meeting, the Director of NOUN Abeokuta Study Centre, Professor Oyekunle Oluwayemisi Adegboyega, lauded JAMB’s commitment to data security, stating, “JAMB has put a data security check in place to ensure a safe and retrievable database.”
He further noted that NOUN prioritizes data integrity and has never issued certificates to students with discrepancies in their academic records.
Accompanying Professor Adegboyega were Noah Chiemezie, a Principal Assistant Registrar, and Mrs. Bukunolami Oyeniyi-Ayeleso, an Assistant Registrar.
With this renewed commitment, JAMB has sent a clear message: no NIN, no UTME registration—a move aimed at enhancing transparency and security in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.
