At least 536 visually impaired candidates have sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), alongside others with special needs across the country. The Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Monday at the commencement of the special UTME sessions in Abuja. Okebukola said the 536 candidates are being examined across 11 designated centres nationwide, under arrangements tailored to their needs.
Since 2017, JAMB through JEOG has provided extensive support, including free accommodation for candidates and their guides, feeding, transportation support, and customized materials. Providing a breakdown of candidate distribution, he revealed that Kano recorded the highest number with 136 candidates, followed by Lagos with 95, while Abuja hosts 46 candidates. Other centres include Ado-Ekiti, Bauchi, Benin, Enugu, Kebbi, Oyo, Jos, and Yola, each supervised by experienced academics, many of whom are former vice-chancellors.
Okebukola expressed satisfaction with the improving admission outcomes for candidates with disabilities. In the 2025 admission cycle, 483 candidates applied for tertiary education, out of which 252 secured admissions, representing a 52.2 per cent success rate. Candidates with visual impairment formed the largest group, accounting for 429 applications, with over half successfully admitted.
Other categories, including candidates with Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Dyslexia, also recorded notable admission rates, with Dyslexia candidates achieving a 100 per cent success rate. He further noted growing interest among candidates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, describing it as a positive shift. However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges faced by blind students in pursuing science-related disciplines and disclosed that efforts have been underway since 2018 to address these barriers. Since its establishment, JEOG has facilitated UTME participation for about 3,200 candidates with disabilities, with more than one-third gaining admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.