JAMB’s Inclusive Drive Commended as 536 Blind Candidates Write UTME
The Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, has commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for his sustained commitment to inclusive education, as 536 blind candidates successfully participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Speaking with journalists on Monday at the commencement of the special UTME sessions, Okebukola said the Oloyede-led administration had ensured that no qualified Nigerian is denied the opportunity to sit for the examination on account of disability.
Okebukola, who monitored this year’s examination from the Oyo centre, revealed that the exercise was conducted seamlessly across 11 designated centres nationwide. These centres are located in Oyo, Ekiti, Enugu, Bauchi, Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Jos, Kebbi, Yola, and Sokoto.
He noted that since 2017, JAMB, through JEOG, has provided comprehensive support services, including free accommodation for candidates and their guides, feeding, transportation, and customised examination materials.
He noted that the successful conduct of the examination for visually impaired candidates underscores JAMB’s dedication to equal opportunity and access to higher education for all Nigerians, regardless of physical challenges.
He also highlighted the adoption of a bimodal examination system, which allows candidates to choose between Fully-Braille and Fully Read-Aloud formats.
According to him, the initiative, now in its third year, has significantly enhanced accessibility and improved the examination experience for candidates with visual impairment.
Providing a breakdown, Okebukola said Kano recorded the highest number of candidates with 136, followed by Lagos with 95, while Abuja hosts 46 candidates. Other centres are located in Ado-Ekiti, Bauchi, Benin, Enugu, Kebbi, Oyo, Jos and Yola.
According to him, the exercise was supported by top past and serving chief executives of tertiary institutions, who volunteered their expertise to ensure smooth coordination and credible conduct of the examination across the centres.
On admission outcomes, Okebukola expressed satisfaction with the steady improvement in the performance of candidates with disabilities.
He disclosed that in the 2025 admission cycle, 483 candidates applied for tertiary education, out of which 252 secured admission, representing a 52.2 per cent success rate.
He noted that candidates with visual impairment accounted for the highest number of applications, while other categories such as Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dyslexia also recorded encouraging admission rates, with Dyslexia candidates achieving full admission success.
Okebukola further observed a growing interest among candidates with disabilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, describing the trend as a positive development.
Despite the progress, he acknowledged persistent challenges faced by blind students in science-related courses, noting that efforts have been ongoing since 2018 to address the barriers.
He revealed that since its inception, JEOG has supported about 3,200 candidates with disabilities to participate in UTME, with over one-third gaining admission into tertiary institutions.
Okebukola said the initiative has continued to attract recognition across Africa as a model for inclusive education.
Also speaking, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, former Provost of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, and Oyo State examination centre coordinator for the past eight years, praised Oloyede for what he described as remarkable achievements in the administration of UTME over the last decade.
Adedoja, who also served as former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, highlighted the consistency, transparency, and innovation introduced into the examination system under Oloyede’s leadership.
He said the sustained success recorded in the past ten years has significantly improved public confidence in JAMB and ensured fairness in the admission process.
Both stakeholders reiterated the need to sustain the inclusive framework that accommodates candidates with special needs, stressing that education remains a fundamental right for every citizen.
