No fewer than 501 visually impaired candidates are scheduled to sit for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across 11 designated centres nationwide, according to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The announcement was made by Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), during a press briefing ahead of the examination scheduled for April 28 and 29, 2025.
Established by JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede in 2017, JEOG is tasked with ensuring an inclusive and smooth UTME experience for candidates with special needs. Professor Okebukola emphasized that the 501 blind candidates will sit for the same test papers as other candidates, with no reduction in standards.
He added that the exam will cover 20 subjects and be administered in two accessible formats: Fully-Braille and Fully Read-Aloud, giving candidates the flexibility to choose their preferred mode.
“In 2024, we had 529 candidates, and this year we have 501. JAMB has remained steadfast in its support, ensuring these candidates have equal access to higher education opportunities,” Okebukola said. He praised Prof. Oloyede for being “Africa’s leading advocate for inclusive education,” citing feedback from members of the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi-Africa), where he serves as president.
In a further gesture of support, JEOG will refund UTME registration fees on the spot to 84 blind candidates who meet minimum university entry qualifications (five O’Level credits). Additionally, blind candidates will receive free hotel accommodation, meals, Braille writing materials, customized t-shirts, and transport support for both them and their guides.
The exam will take place in centres located in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Ado-Ekiti, Bauchi, Benin, Enugu, Kebbi, Oyo, Jos, and Yola, each coordinated by seasoned academics, including former Vice-Chancellors and education experts.
Lagos has the highest number of blind candidates (107), followed by Kano (91). Notable coordinators include Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun (Lagos), Prof. Muhammad Bello (Kano), Prof. Sunday Ododo (Abuja), and others across the designated centres.
Professor Okebukola noted that the initiative has been highly successful. “Over 70% of JEOG candidates in 2024 secured admission into institutions such as the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Covenant University, Federal University of Technology Minna, and Lagos State University,” he revealed.
Courses offered to successful candidates include Law, Medicine, Engineering, Mass Communication, Nursing, and Special Education, reflecting a wide range of academic interests and institutional inclusivity.
This effort by JAMB, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, reinforces Nigeria’s leadership in equal educational access in Africa and continues to set a benchmark for inclusive practices on the continent.
