501 Visually Impaired Candidates to Sit for 2025 JAMB Nationwide — Okebukola Announces

The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would be administered in eleven locations across the country to no fewer than 501 blind applicants.

Speaking to reporters in advance of the 2025 UTME for blind candidates and other individuals with special needs allotted to JEOG by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mr. Peter Okebulola, Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), made this announcement.

Recall that to ensure the seamless and orderly administration of the UTME for candidates who are blind or have other special requirements, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Oloyede, established the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) in 2017, with Professor Okebukola serving as its chairman.

On Wednesday, Okebulola, the chairman of JEOG, informed reporters that 501 blind applicants had signed up to take the 2025 UTME at eleven locations around the country.

He revealed that JAMB has set the exam, which covers 20 disciplines, on April 28 and 29, 2025, across eleven locations.

“There is no reduction in the standards in any way, and the candidates take the same test papers as the regular candidates,” he continued.

Oloyede, according to Okebulola, president of the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi-Africa), is one of the most powerful advocates for equal access to higher education in Africa.

“In the past week, I have discussed with members of GUNi-Africa how blind candidates who want to pursue higher education in Africa are treated in their countries, and everyone agrees that Nigeria, Professor Oloyede, stands clearly out as the best,” Okebukola said, referring to the annual review.

Further, Okebukola stated that “this year, the cost of their UTME registration will be refunded on-site during the examination for 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).”

According to him, Oloyede has been giving the candidates five more “goodies” since 2017. These include free hotel accommodations for blind candidates and their guides, free Braille slates and styluses, personalized T-shirts, free meals during the exam period, and transportation assistance for blind candidates and their guides.

“No other nation in Africa even comes close to providing such warm gestures.”

Okebukola went on to say, “JAMB would use JEOG to administer the UTME in two ways this year and for the second time. Fully-Braille and Fully-Read-Aloud are involved. Candidates can select a mode.

“JAMB has provided JEOG with resources to ensure that candidates have a positive experience with both test administration methods. 348, 313, and 529 candidates were submitted in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.

“Lagos has the highest number, 107, with Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, former VC of LASU, as coordinator,” Okebukola said about the distribution of the candidates and the center coordinators, several of whom are former vice-chancellors.

Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello, a former vice-chancellor of Bayero University, is the coordinator for Kano, which has 91 candidates. Professor Sunday Ododo of Abuja (41), Professor Rasheed Aderinoye of Ado-Ekiti (32), the former Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Nomadic Education, Professor Ibrahim Yusuf of Bauchi (37), Professor Samuel G. Odewumi, the former Dean of the School of Transport and Logistics at LASU, Professor Emeritus Mosto Onuoha (former DVC, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufo-Alike) are in Enugu (50);

Professor Asabe Kabir of Kebbi (14) and Professor Taoheed Adedoja of Oyo (69), the former Minister of Sports and Special Duties; Jos (28) of IBB University, Professor Nasiru Maiturare, the former VC of IBB University; and Yola (16) of Professor Muhammad Yakasai, the VC of Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa.

“The examination, which includes 20 subjects, has been scheduled for April 28 and 29, 2025, in the eleven centers,” he continued. The test questions are identical to those taken by regular candidates, and there is no reduction in the requirements.

Approximately 70% of JEOG applicants in 2024, particularly blind and albino applicants, were granted entrance to schools of education, universities, and polytechnics. Law, special education, computer science, medicine, surgery, various education programs, mass media, civil engineering, pharmacy, nursing science, and business administration were among the courses they were accepted into.

Abdulkadir Kure University in Minna, Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Abia State University in Uturu, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic in Bauchi, Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education in Kangere, Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Air Force Institute of Technology in Kaduna, Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo, Alex Ekwueme Federal University in Ndufu-Alike, and Al-Hikmah University in Ilorin are among the institutions that offered admission.

Alvan Ikoku College of Education; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi; Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo; Bauchi State University, Gadau; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli; Covenant University, Canaanland, Ota; Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro; Delta State University, Abraka; Federal Polytechnic, Oko; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Federal University, Lafia; Federal University, Otuoke; Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; Gombe State University, Tudun Wada; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt; and Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State.

Other institutions include the Nigerian Police Academy in Wudil, Lagos State University in Ojo, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin, Kwara State University in Malete, Ilorin, Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja, Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, the University of Abuja, the University of Benin, Benin City, the University of Calabar in Calabar, the University of Delta, Agbor, the University of Ibadan, the University of Ilorin, the University of Jos, Jos, Lagos, the University of Maiduguri, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano.