In a rare condition known as adermatoglyphia, a Nigerian woman named Jidds was born without fingerprints, making everyday tasks like registering for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) a significant challenge. Her story has sparked a conversation among others with similar experiences.
A Life of Struggle
Jidds, who shared her story on her Instagram account, recalled her first encounter with the problem in 2017 when she went for JAMB registration with her father. While other candidates moved through the process, she remained behind as she attempted to get the biometric equipment to recognise her fingers. She said she watched more than 200 people register before her and eventually became so overwhelmed that she cried.
The officials tried several methods to make the process work, including asking her to get materials such as sand and chalk, and even suggesting she scrub her hands to see if it would make the scanner detect a print. JAMB does have a special procedure for candidates with biometric abnormalities, allowing them to be handled at the Board's headquarters in Abuja and allowed to take the examination there on the final day of the examination calendar.
The Struggle Continues
Jidds' account suggests that getting the system to recognise that she has a genuine biometric limitation was itself part of the struggle. When she returned for the examination, the biometric system could sometimes recognise her on entry but fail to recognise her when she tried to check out. The uncertainty has contributed to the anxiety she feels whenever she has to deal with fingerprint-based identification.
The experience has also extended to banking and other situations where fingerprints are used to confirm identity. Jidds described having to explain why a fingerprint cannot be provided in the first place, often finding herself having to resort to using her foot during biometric verification. She recalled using a part of her foot during NYSC verification, saying it was not even her toe, but rather a part of her feet that she used to thumbprint.
A Rare Condition
Jidds' condition, adermatoglyphia, is a rare genetic disorder associated with the absence of the ridge patterns that form fingerprints. Her disclosure has also prompted other Nigerians to share experiences that sounded strikingly familiar. A commenter, Raheematr, said she spent roughly two hours trying to complete JAMB biometric verification while other candidates proceeded with their examinations.
Another user, Ugothegogo, recalled struggling with the same issue during NYSC and at an embassy, saying the experience had been a "nightmare". She said seeing another person talk openly about it made her feel recognised. The conversation also drew a medical perspective, with a commenter identified as Foladermadoc advising anyone experiencing similar problems to see a consultant dermatologist at a teaching hospital.
A Call for Change
The conversation also raised questions about whether fingerprint verification should remain the only practical option. A commenter, Oluwamesiooa, pointed out that biometric identification can also involve facial images and argued that Nigeria should continue developing alternative technologies. Before sharing her experience, Jidds believed she was dealing with an unusually lonely problem. Afterwards, she said, almost 100 people contacted her to say they had encountered similar difficulties.
For Jidds, discovering others with the same experience has offered something the machines never could: reassurance that she is not alone. Her story highlights a wider challenge as biometric identification becomes more widespread in Nigeria. As the country continues to develop its biometric infrastructure, it is essential to consider the experiences of individuals like Jidds and ensure that alternative solutions are available for those with biometric abnormalities.
Source: Pulse.ng
