Ahead of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), no fewer than 577 blind candidates are gearing up to sit for the exam in eleven centres across Nigeria, News About Nigeria reports.
The Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Thursday.
Prof. Okebukola revealed that this year’s UTME for blind candidates has the highest number of participants yet, with a total of 577 candidates.
He noted that this increase from previous years is largely due to increased advocacy efforts by JEOG.
Speaking further, Prof. Okebukola commended the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for his commitment to ensuring equal opportunity in access to higher education.
He described Prof. Oloyede as one of the strongest pillars of equal opportunity in Africa, particularly for blind candidates aspiring for higher education.
In recognition of Prof. Oloyede’s efforts, Prof. Okebukola announced that all blind candidates who are prima facie qualified for admission to higher institutions in Nigeria will have the cost of their UTME registration refunded on-site during the examination.
Additionally, Prof. Oloyede has provided several other support measures for blind candidates since 2017, including free hotel accommodation, Braille slates, customised t-shirts, free meals, and transport supplementation for the candidates and their guides.
Prof. Okebukola expressed gratitude for these gestures, noting that no other African country offers such support to blind candidates.
Regarding the distribution of candidates and centre coordinators, Prof. Okebukola provided details of the allocation, with former vice-chancellors serving as coordinators in various centres across the country.
The UTME for blind candidates is scheduled to take place on April 22 and 23 in eleven centres and will cover 20 subjects.
Prof. Okebukola assured that blind candidates would take the same test papers as regular candidates, with no lowering of standards.
Dr. Jake Ekpelle, the founder and CEO of The Albino Foundation, who is overseeing publicity for JEOG, expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and anticipated a successful UTME for blind candidates.
