Dr. Jane Uche, a grieving widow, has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to find a solution for candidates unable to register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, due to lost SIM cards.
She expressed concern that her children’s academic future is at risk because the board requires the same phone number used in previous registrations, which belonged to her late husband.
Speaking in Abuja, Uche explained that her husband had used his phone number to generate profile codes for their children’s previous UTME registrations. However, after his passing, she was unable to retrieve the SIM, leaving her children stranded in their academic pursuits.
“I have three children aged 20, 18, and 16, none of whom have gained admission into any institution. The grief keeps multiplying due to recurring challenges,” she lamented.
She appealed to JAMB to introduce an alternative system for children of deceased parents, as retrieving her husband’s SIM card had proven impossible.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated that while the board sympathizes with affected candidates, retrieving the original SIM from the network provider remains the only solution.
Meanwhile, JAMB announced a new feature at Computer-Based Test, CBT, centres to assist candidates who have lost their SIM cards. However, the board emphasized that SIM swap is still not an option for profile code generation.
“Good news for those who cannot retrieve their previously used but lost SIM cards. A feature is now available at all CBT centres to address your case,” JAMB stated in an official update.
Despite this development, Uche and many others in similar situations continue to hope for a more flexible system that accommodates unforeseen circumstances.
NAN
