UTME: Stakeholders urge JAMB to sustain collaboration with NIMC
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By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara), Jan. 13, 2020 (NAN) Some stakeholders in the education sector on Monday called on the management of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to sustain its collaboration with the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC).
The stakeholders made their position known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.
They expressed the need for JAMB to channel adequate resources toward ensuring the workability of using the National Identity Cards for future Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations in spite of its recent suspension for the 2020 UTME exercise.
It would be recalled that the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, had few days ago announced the suspension while briefing journalists in Abuja, saying the move was to provide more time for candidates to get their National Identification Number (NIN).
He said that the suspension was also to address the technical challenges experienced at some centres.
Oloyede asked candidates to disregard the use of NIN for the 2020 registration and strictly comply with other procedures for the registration.
He, however, said that JAMB would consider the use of NIN for 2021 UTME.
Alhaji Azeez Salawudeen, a community leader, said that JAMB and NIMC collaboration on the use of national identity cards, would boost national planning and human capital development.
“The collaboration has not only created the necessary awareness among the eligible students, but afforded them the opportunity to obtain their identity card as genuine citizens.
“Some students, in spite of attaining the required age brackets to obtain the cards, have developed a kind of nonchalant attitude toward it.
“But when it became a vital requirement for the UTME registration, the students have no other alternative than to comply.
“JAMB should ensure the collaboration is further sustained to ensure accurate and genuine data collection of candidates for future UTME examinations,” he said
Mrs Debora Abiodun, the proprietress of Success International Academy, Odo-owa, said that the collaboration was a well taught out scheme that would engender growth, efficiency and credibility in the education sector.
“I was happy when JAMB announced the national identity card as a requirement for UTME registration because such was long overdue to curb impersonation.
” There is no reform without its teething problems, JAMB should not be deterred by the suspension, but should strive to work on the noticeable grey areas in order to achieve the desired success,” she said.
Mr John Aransiola, Head of Counseling Unit, Irepodun Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), on his part, said that the collaboration between JAMB and NIMC would add value and credibility to UTME examinations if well planned and executed.
“As education counsellor, we come across a lot of atrocities being perpetrated by students on daily basis.
“Such unpleasant acts, especially during examinations, have done more damage to the credibility of our examinations and portrayed the system in bad light.
“So with this initiative between JAMB and NIMC, there is still brighter light at the end of the tunnel.
“There is the need for JAMB to sustain the laudable initiative and for those students who are yet to obtain their identity cards to do so, for them to also be eligible for future UTME,” he said.
Wale Adelodun and Patrick Alebiosu, both UTME prospective candidates, said they would still strive to process and obtain their identity cards, inspite of its suspension for the 2020 UTME registration.
“The suspension will not stop us from getting our national identity cards as most of my friends and colleagues have gotten theirs.
“Apart from being a requirement for UTME, the other benefits are unquantifiable.
“JAMB’s collaboration with NIMC on UTME registration is an eye-opener for us as students and should not be jettisoned but be sustained and improved upon,” they said. (NAN)
ISHO/NNO/OJO
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(Edited by Nick Nicholas/Mufutau Ojo)