By Oso Abidemi
At least 501 blind candidates are gearing up to take the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), across 11 centres nationwide, as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), deepens its commitment to inclusive education.
Professor Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), disclosed this while addressing journalists ahead of the April 28–29 examination designed for candidates with special needs.
“These candidates write the same test papers as their peers. No standards are lowered,” Okebukola stressed, reaffirming JAMB’s resolve to uphold equity and excellence.
Established in 2017 by JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, JEOG has consistently ensured blind candidates write UTME in a dignified and seamless environment.
Okebukola, who also leads the Global University Network for Innovation in Africa, described Oloyede as a “towering figure” in promoting educational access for the visually impaired across the continent.
In a commendable gesture, 84 blind candidates qualified with requisite SSCE grades will be refunded their UTME registration fees during the exams.
This comes alongside a generous support package including free hotel accommodation, meals, Braille kits, customised T-shirts, and transport stipends for the candidates and their guides.
This year’s edition also features the bimodal test administration system—Fully-Braille and Fully Read-Aloud—giving candidates the freedom to choose their preferred mode.
With the number of blind candidates rising from 348 in 2022 to 529 in 2024, JAMB’s inclusive efforts continue to break barriers, turning disabilities into possibilities.
