By Isa Sadiq Muhammed (U19MM1001)
In 2017, I registered for my National Identification Number (NIN) at the Federal Secretariat in Ilorin. I went with a neighbor, filled a form for ₦200, and went through the usual process: photo capture, fingerprint scan, and a few personal questions. Everything seemed normal. Or so I thought.
Fast forward to 2025, I got a scholarship opportunity. During the application process, I was required to input my NIN and BVN. That’s when I hit a brick wall. An error message in red popped up: "NIN and BVN do not match." I checked again. It was a mismatch in date of birth.
At first, I was confused. All my credentials had the correct birthdate except the NIN. That’s when I realized the officer who registered me years ago had changed my age without telling me. After some research, I discovered that back then, you had to be at least 18 to register for NIN. Instead of rejecting my application, the officer quietly increased my age and it cost me dearly.
A friend of mine had a similar experience. It cost him ₦30,000 to correct his date of birth on his NIN.
Lessons for Everyone:
1. Always verify your details before leaving any registration office.
2. Cross check NIN, BVN, and all credentials well before applying for opportunities.
3. Speak up early, errors caught late can cost you scholarships, jobs, or international opportunities.
4. Policy makers and NIMC staff need to be transparent and responsible when handling personal data.
This experience taught me that a small oversight even one you didn’t cause, can have big consequences. I’m sharing this not to complain, but to help others avoid the same mistake.