FG Orders WAEC, NECO, NABTEB to Emboss NIN, Date of Birth & Photo on Certificates; Full CBT by 2027 -

FG Orders WAEC, NECO, NABTEB to Emboss NIN, Date of Birth & Photo on Certificates; Full CBT by 2027 – Alphayem

Education policy update for candidates, parents, schools, and exam bodies in Nigeria.

The Federal Government has unveiled a new anti-malpractice push that will change how examination results are produced and how exams are administered in Nigeria.
Going forward, examination bodies must emboss three identifiers on certificates/results issued to qualified candidates:
National Identification Number (NIN), date of birth, and a candidate’s photograph.
In addition, the government has set a clear target: by 2027, major public examinations should fully migrate from paper-based testing (PBT) to Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

Who Announced the New Measures?

The directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, at the inauguration of a national committee saddled with
planning and guiding the migration of high-stakes examinations—such as those conducted by the
West African Examinations Council (WAEC),
National Examinations Council (NECO), and
National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)—to CBT within three years.

The committee is chaired by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, and has been tasked to examine the full ecosystem of examinations—candidates, parents, teachers, schools, supervisors—and propose practical strategies to curb malpractice and identity theft while improving exam quality.

Three Mandatory Identifiers on Every Certificate/Result

The Ministry has directed all relevant examination bodies that, beginning with their next examination cycles,
results/certificates must carry the following security identifiers:

National Identification Number (NIN): permanently linked to the candidate for unique identity verification.
Date of Birth (DoB): to strengthen age verification and reduce impersonation.
Embossed Passport Photograph: a visible, tamper-resistant photo of the candidate on the document.

This “triple-identifier” approach is expected to drastically reduce result swapping, impersonation, and certificate fraud.
Candidates who have not yet enrolled for NIN should complete their registration with the
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as early as possible.

Full Migration to CBT by 2027

The government’s target is clear: by 2027, the major public examinations should be fully CBT-based.
This migration aims to leverage technology to improve speed, security, and credibility of assessments, building on the experience of bodies like
JAMB.

The committee’s terms of reference include eliminating question leakages, tightening identity verification, improving supervision quality,
and addressing practices like “local swapping of candidates.” The end goal is a system where every stage—from registration to certification—can be audited,
verified, and trusted.

Why These Changes Matter

Examination malpractice has long undermined fairness and merit in admissions and employment.
By tying results to a verified identity (NIN + DoB + Photo) and moving to CBT, the system becomes:

Harder to Game: Increased barriers to impersonation and certificate forgery.
Faster & More Transparent: CBT streamlines marking and releases results faster.
Auditable: Digital trails allow robust monitoring and quality assurance.

What Candidates & Parents Should Do Now

Get Your NIN Early: If you don’t have a NIN yet, visit an official NIMC enrollment centre.
Ensure your name and date of birth are accurate and match your school records.
Find NIMC centres.
Align Your Records: Make sure your school records, registration profiles, and NIN all carry the same biodata to avoid discrepancies.
Get a Clear Passport Photo Ready: Follow the specific photo guidelines issued by your examination body to avoid rejection.
Prepare for CBT: Get familiar with computer-based testing environments. Practice with CBT simulations and past questions in CBT format.
Avoid Shortcuts: Ignore “expo” channels. The new safeguards are designed to detect and penalize malpractice more reliably.

New to CBT? Read our guide on
Common CBT challenges in Nigeria and what students should know (internal).

What Schools, Teachers & Exam Centres Must Note

Data Integrity: Verify students’ NINs during registration and ensure biodata accuracy.
Supervision Standards: Expect stricter criteria for who can supervise exams and how centres are monitored.
CBT Readiness: Audit your power, systems, connectivity, and capacity ahead of the migration timeline.
Ethical Culture: The Minister decried collusion by parents, teachers, principals, and supervisors; schools must lead by example.

For more policy updates, see our
Education section (internal), and bookmark official portals like
Federal Ministry of Education for circulars.

Timeline: What to Expect Between Now and 2027

Immediate/Next Exam Cycles: Certificates/results begin carrying NIN, date of birth, and candidate photo.
Year-by-Year CBT Scaling: More exam components and centres transition to CBT as infrastructure expands.
By 2027: Target date for full migration of major public exams to CBT.

Candidates should assume these identifiers and CBT protocols will become standard practice and prepare accordingly.

FAQs

What if my NIN details don’t match my school records?

Resolve discrepancies before registration. Visit NIMC for corrections and update your school records to match.
Mismatched data may delay your results or raise verification flags.

Will CBT disadvantage students with limited computer skills?

Not if you practice. Start early with CBT mock tests and typing drills. Schools and centres are encouraged to offer familiarization sessions.
See our article on if Nigeria is ready for O’level CBT Exam (internal).

Can I sit for an exam without NIN?

With the new directives tying certificates to NIN, candidates should prioritize obtaining a valid NIN well before registration deadlines.

Useful Links

More on Alphayem

Editor’s Note: Alphayem will keep tracking implementation timelines for NIN-based identifiers and the CBT migration roadmap across WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB.
Bookmark this page and our Education category for updates.

FG Orders WAEC, NECO, NABTEB to Emboss NIN, Date of Birth & Photo on Certificates; Full CBT by 2027