Ahead of the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations,
prospective candidates last Thursday thronged the National Identity
Number registration centre in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Govgernment
Area of Kwara State, to obtain their numbers.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board had told candidates
willing to partake in the 2020 UTME to obtain their NIN.
Students, especially those in SS3 and other UTME prospective external
candidates, thronged the centre in large number as early as 7.00 am to
be registered.
Some of the applicants, who spoke with newsmen at the NIN centre
inside Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Omu-Aran, lauded the
collaboration between JAMB and the National Identity Management
Commission (NIMC) over the initiative.
They described the development as “using a stone to kill two birds”.
An SS3 Student of Ogbo Grammar School, Omu-Aran and a UTME candidate,
Ojekemi Benson, described the registration process as smooth and
stress-free.
He also expressed satisfaction with JAMB’s requirement for National
Identity Number for the 2020 UTME examinations, saying such a gesture
would promote national growth and development.
Also, a prospective UTME external candidate, Miss Rebecca Adelodun,
called for the establishment of more registration centres to
accommodate the high number of applicants.
Speaking with newsmen, the NIMC Supervisor in Irepodun Local
Government Area of the state, Tope Jimoh, said the centre had
envisaged the high number of applicants and had made adequate
arrangements in that regard.
“We had envisaged the upsurge in the number of applicants based on the
new development and we are very much on top of the situation,” Jimoh
said.
The spokesman for JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, had in a statement in
September noted that National Identity Card requirement would help
check examination malpractices.
“Candidates are enjoined to register as the board will no longer be
responsible for the capturing of candidates?
“Henceforth, the NIN will be compulsory for the UTME registration,”
Benjamin said.
