In Nigeria, a minor error in your date of birth (DOB) on JAMB can lead to major problems later in life, particularly when it comes to NYSC registration, scholarship applications, WAEC/NECO matching, and even job placement.
Most students do not recognize the gravity of the situation until it is too late. They register for JAMB with the wrong date of birth, which can be due to cyber café errors, incorrect NIN information, or even rushing through registration without checking, especially if you’re still new to everything.
This education issue is common when your parents are illiterate and simply send money to someone to help you with your studies and schoolwork. You are in a terrible situation right now and must resolve it as soon as possible.
Then, when it comes time for clearance or NYSC mobilization, the date of birth on their JAMB portal disagrees with the WAEC or NIN, leaving you trapped.
In this article, I’ll show you how to update your date of birth on the JAMB portal, how much it will cost, and the specific methods based on real-life experiences from candidates across Nigeria. Let’s talk about the educational body between higher institutions and secondary education level
Learn more about JAMB
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is responsible for admission to Nigerian tertiary institutions. Every year, they administer the UTME exam to students seeking admission to universities, polytechnics, and institutes of education.
In recent years, JAMB has implemented tight digital processes such as NIN linking, profile code verification, and bio-data matching with other institutions (such as NYSC and WAEC).
This means that your name, date of birth, gender, and phone number must be consistent across all platforms; otherwise, you will have major issues.
How to Correct Date of Birth on the JAMB Portal
Now, the major question: can you update your date of birth on JAMB? Yes, but not everyone will teach you how. Most of the time, JAMB claims “date of birth cannot be edited”, especially when you’re trying to do it from your phone or laptop, but there is a legal procedure that allows you to repair it. Let me show you.
Step 1: Check your NIN date of birth.
Before you go to JAMB, make sure your NIN slip shows the right date of birth. Why? Because JAMB obtains all of your information from NIMC and if your NIN has an incorrect date of birth, changing it on JAMB would not help.
If your NIN is incorrect, visit any NIMC office and request a change of DOB. This will require time and cost ₦15,000 or more, depending on your state.
Step 2: Obtain a Court Affidavit.
Once your NIN indicates the right date of birth, visit the nearest High Court to get an affidavit for the correction of date of birth or go to the Magistrate Court. This demonstrates that you are fixing an official record error and not attempting to trick the system.
Affidavits typically cost between ₦1,000 and ₦3,000, depending on region.
Step 3: Visit the JAMB office.
Take your updated NIN, affidavit, and JAMB data to the nearest JAMB office. You will need to go with the following:
Required documents include a corrected NIN slip, an affidavit for DOB correction, a WAEC or NECO certificate, a JAMB profile printout or registration slip, and a valid ID (e.g. student ID, voter’s card, national ID).
Step 4: Pay for DOB Correction.
JAMB requires a non-refundable cost of ₦2,500 for any bio-data corrections, including date of birth. Some locations may also charge a little fee for processing or printing, so bring adequate money.
Once payment is processed, you will be given a Transaction ID and a receipt, which is normally done with an ATM card rather than your preferred Opay or Palmpay bank transfer via phone.
Step 5: Send “REQUERY” SMS for Profile Synchronization.
Following your payment, the JAMB officer will urge you to send REQUERY to either 55019 or 66019 using your JAMB phone number. This will resync your NIN and profile before they make the correction.
Step 6: Wait for JAMB to apply the changes.
Once all documents have been submitted and confirmed, your JAMB profile date of birth will be changed to match your NIN. You can confirm it using your JAMB CAPS portal or a printout.
Make sure to screenshot or save all changes after they are reflected; you may need them during NYSC or school screening.
Conclusion
Correcting your date of birth on JAMB is not something you want to put off because once the erroneous age displays on your records, it can hinder you from performing NYSC, seeking for age-sensitive scholarships, or matching your WAEC/NECO/GCE exams are taken during school admissions.
While some JAMB offices may claim that it is not possible, the only method to resolve this issue is through your NIN, affidavit, and official application process, as detailed in this post.
According to our research at Truethenet.com, the secret to success is to arrive at the JAMB office early, prepared, respectful, and direct. If you use the necessary documents and follow the procedure, you will get your DOB changed without stress.
Good luck, and if this helped you, please share it with someone who may be experiencing the same issue.
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