Woman born without fingerprints recounts JAMB, NYSC biometric struggles
Imagine having to use your foot to prove your identity simply because your fingers don’t have fingerprints. This is why systems need to be built with exceptions in mind.
Gbemisola Adewumi
Tuesday, 1 September 2026 · 1 min read
A Nigerian woman, Jidds, who was born without fingerprints, has recounted the difficulties she faces with biometric systems during JAMB registration, NYSC activities, and banking transactions. She discovered the condition, known as adermatoglyphia, while registering for JAMB in 2017.
She said the challenge continued during her examination and later during her NYSC programme, where she had to use part of her foot for biometric verification. Jidds also recalled being wrongly labelled a ritualist because of her condition and questioned why institutions that require biometrics have limited provisions for people like her.
Dr Folakemi Cole-Adeife, a dermatologist, advised people with the condition to seek confirmation from a consultant dermatologist and obtain medical documentation supporting exemption from fingerprint biometrics. Adermatoglyphia is a rare condition in which fingerprint ridges are absent, making conventional fingerprint scanners ineffective.
Source:
https://punchng.com/woman-born-without-fingerprints-recounts-jamb-nysc-biometric-struggles/
Written by: Afolalu Eniola Anthonia
Edited by: Atanda Haleemah Folashade
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📰 MEDIZINE Online — Communicating life conversations. » Woman born without fingerprints recounts JAMB, NYSC biometric struggles Imagine having to use your foot to prove your identity simply because your fingers don’t have fingerprints. Read the full story: https://medizine.eksumsa.org/article/woman-born-without-fingerprints-recounts-jamb-nysc-biometric-struggles?ref=wa
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📰 MEDIZINE Online · Interviews & Features **Woman born without fingerprints recounts JAMB, NYSC biometric struggles** Imagine having to use your foot to prove your identity simply because your fingers don’t have fingerprints. By Gbemisola Adewumi · 1 September 2026 Read the full story 👇 https://medizine.eksumsa.org/article/woman-born-without-fingerprints-recounts-jamb-nysc-biometric-struggles?ref=wa — Communicating life conversations.