A total of 577 visually impaired candidates are scheduled to participate in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across 11 designated centers nationwide. Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday in preparation for the 2024 UTME for visually impaired candidates and individuals with special needs under JEOG’s purview.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, established the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group in 2017 to ensure the effective handling of visually impaired candidates and others with special needs. Okebukola highlighted that for the first time, JAMB, through JEOG, will implement a bimodal system of UTME administration, offering candidates the choice between Fully-Braille and Fully Read-Aloud modes. JEOG has been equipped by JAMB to ensure a positive testing experience for candidates in both modes.
With a record number of 577 visually impaired candidates participating in the 2024 UTME, marking an increase from 348 in 2022 and 313 in 2023, Okebukola attributed this rise to enhanced advocacy efforts by JEOG, which will be further strengthened in the future. He commended Prof. Oloyede as a key advocate for equal access to higher education in Africa, noting his significant contributions to promoting inclusivity in the education sector.
Furthermore, Okebukola announced that all visually impaired candidates meeting the admission criteria for higher education in Nigeria (with a minimum of five O-level credits) will have their UTME registration fees refunded on-site during the examination. He also highlighted the additional support provided by Prof. Oloyede since 2017, including free hotel accommodation, Braille materials, customised t-shirts, meals during the examination period, and transport assistance for the candidates and their guides, emphasizing that these gestures set Nigeria apart in supporting visually impaired candidates.
Okebukola’s nomination of Prof. Oloyede for the CNN Heroes Award reflects the widespread recognition of his exceptional contributions. The distribution of candidates across various centers, coordinated by former Vice-Chancellors, includes notable figures such as Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello in Kano, Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun in Lagos, and other distinguished coordinators in different regions, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring a conducive testing environment for visually impaired candidates.
