501 blind candidates to sit for UTME in 11 CBT centres

A total of 501 visually impaired candidates are preparing to sit for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board across eleven computer-based testing centres nationwide.

The Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Prof. Emeritus Peter Okebulola, disclosed this information yesterday while speaking to journalists in Abuja ahead of the 2025 UTME for candidates with visual impairments and other special needs, a responsibility assigned to JEOG by JAMB.

He explained that JAMB has fixed April 28 and 29, 2025, as the examination dates in 11 locations where 20 subjects will be tested.

The number of visually impaired candidates who sat for the UTME in recent years includes 348 in 2022, 313 in 2023, and 529 in 2024.

“The candidates take the same test papers as the regular candidates, and standards are not lowered in any form,” he stated.

In 2017, JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede created JEOG and appointed Prof. Okebulola as its chairman to ensure a fair and organized administration of the UTME for blind and other candidates with special needs.

Okebulola, who also serves as the President of the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi-Africa), praised Oloyede, calling him one of the most significant advocates for equal access to tertiary education across Africa.

He said, “As I normally review every year, in the last one week, I have conferred with members of GUNi-Africa on how blind candidates aspiring for higher education in Africa are treated in their countries, and all are in agreement that Professor Oloyede in Nigeria stands clearly out as the best.”

He further mentioned that “This year, 84 blind candidates who are SSCE prima facie qualified for admission to institutions of higher learning in Nigeria (that is, with at least five O-level credits) will have the cost of their UTME registration refunded on site during the examination.”

He noted that in addition to that, the other five “goodies” consistently provided by Oloyede since 2017 include complimentary lodging for blind candidates and their assistants, free Braille slate and stylus, customized t-shirts, free meals throughout the examination period, and transportation support for blind candidates and their guides.

The former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission emphasized that “No other African country comes near offering such kind gestures.”

Okebukola continued: “This year, for the second time, JAMB, through JEOG, will implement the bimodal system of UTME administration. This involves Fully Braille and Fully Read-Aloud. Candidates have a choice of mode.”

He affirmed that JEOG, supported with resources from JAMB, is ready to ensure a smooth and positive testing experience in both modes of examination delivery for the candidates. The candidate numbers recorded were 348 in 2022, 313 in 2023, and 529 in 2024.

Referring to the allocation of candidates across centres and their coordinators—many of whom are former university vice-chancellors—Okebukola pointed out that “Lagos has the highest number, 107, with Prof. Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, former VC of LASU, as coordinator.”