By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
No fewer than 4,216 candidates with disabilities have gained admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria over the past decade through the intervention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG).
Chairman of JEOG and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, disclosed this on Wednesday during the 2026 JAMB National Stakeholder Engagement on Inclusivity and Higher Education held at the NUC headquarters in Abuja.
The JAMB Equal Opportunity Group is a special initiative established by the outgoing JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, to ensure that candidates with disabilities enjoy equal access to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and admission opportunities in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
According to Prof. Okebukola, the initiative has recorded remarkable success since its inception, with an average of 53 per cent of participating candidates securing admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education annually.
He noted that the beneficiaries comprise candidates with various forms of disabilities, including visual impairment, autism, Down syndrome, albinism and other special needs.
“In the last 10 years, we have had 4,216 candidates with different categories of disabilities participate in the programme. On the average, about 53 per cent of them gain admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education every year,” he said.
The former NUC Executive Secretary stressed that the initiative does not lower academic standards for candidates with disabilities, noting that they sit for the same examinations and answer the same questions as other UTME candidates.
“We do not lower standards for them. They answer the same questions as every other candidate. I am continually amazed by how excellently they perform. Many of them are exceptionally brilliant,” he stated.
Prof. Okebukola said many of the beneficiaries have excelled in highly competitive disciplines, including Law and other professional programmes, demonstrating that disability is not a barrier to academic excellence when the necessary support systems are provided.
Speaking on the theme of the stakeholder engagement, he said participants reviewed the achievements of the initiative over the past decade and explored future opportunities, particularly the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing inclusive higher education.
“One of the major issues that will shape the future of higher education is Artificial Intelligence, and we are examining how AI can improve the efficiency of inclusivity in higher education,” he said.
As part of activities marking the anniversary of the initiative, two books were unveiled.
The first, A Peep into the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria, was produced in honour of Professor Oloyede and features contributions from 44 scholars examining emerging trends and the future direction of Nigeria’s higher education system.
The second publication, Early Start, Great Finish: Survival and Success – Manual for Underage Students in Nigerian Universities, authored by Prof. Okebukola, offers guidance to parents, lecturers, university administrators and other stakeholders on supporting exceptionally gifted students admitted into universities before the age of 16.
According to the author, the manual was developed following extensive consultations with 468 scholars and underage students already enrolled in Nigerian universities and addresses critical issues such as bullying, emotional adjustment and social integration.
The event also featured glowing tributes to Professor Oloyede from stakeholders across the education sector, including the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch. Dr. Sonny Echono, who commended the outgoing JAMB Registrar for implementing reforms that have strengthened the credibility of the UTME and significantly expanded access to higher education for persons with disabilities.
In recognition of exceptional service, JAMB presented awards to outstanding members of staff, particularly personnel in its Information Technology Department, for their dedication and innovation in enhancing the Board’s operations.
Several universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were also honoured for their commitment to admitting and supporting candidates with disabilities, in line with JAMB’s vision of building a more inclusive and equitable higher education system in Nigeria.
