The Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Peter Okebukola, has commended the Registrar of JAMB, Is-haq Oloyede, for advancing equal access to tertiary education.
Okebukola gave the commendation on Monday while addressing journalists at the commencement of the special sessions of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, noting that 536 blind candidates and others with special needs are participating in the exercise nationwide.
He said the current leadership of JAMB has sustained policies that ensure no qualified candidate is excluded from the examination due to disability. According to him, the board’s approach is rooted in fairness, inclusivity, and equal opportunity for all candidates who meet admission requirements.
The candidates are being examined across 11 designated centres nationwide, with arrangements specifically tailored to their needs. Okebukola highlighted that since 2017, JEOG has provided support services such as free accommodation for candidates and their guides, feeding, transportation, and customised examination materials.
He also noted the continued use of a bimodal examination system, which allows candidates to choose between Fully-Braille and Fully Read-Aloud formats. The system, now in its third year, has significantly improved accessibility and the overall examination experience.
Providing a breakdown, he disclosed that Kano recorded the highest number of candidates with 136, followed by Lagos with 95, while Abuja has 46 candidates. Other centres include Ado-Ekiti, Bauchi, Benin, Enugu, Kebbi, Oyo, Jos, and Yola.
Okebukola further expressed satisfaction with the improving admission outcomes for candidates with disabilities. He revealed that in the 2025 admission cycle, 483 candidates applied for tertiary education, out of which 252 secured admission, representing a 52.2 percent success rate.
Candidates with visual impairment accounted for the majority of applications, while others with conditions such as Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Dyslexia also recorded notable admission rates. He added that candidates with Dyslexia achieved a 100 percent admission success rate.
He also observed a growing interest among candidates with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, describing it as a positive development. However, he acknowledged persistent challenges faced by blind students in science-related disciplines, noting that efforts to address these barriers have been ongoing since 2018.
Okebukola said the initiative has gained recognition across Africa as a model for inclusive education, reflecting JAMB’s commitment to equity and expanded access within Nigeria’s education system.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.