ABUJA, Nigeria — Over the past decade, 53 percent of the 4,216 candidates with disabilities who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination successfully secured admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Equal Opportunity Group, the examination body has revealed.
The disclosure was made by the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, during the opening ceremony of the 2026 JAMB Equal Opportunity Group retreat held in Abuja on Monday. The event brought together stakeholders to review progress and chart a way forward for inclusive access to tertiary education in Nigeria.
Progress in Inclusion
According to the data presented by the JAMB Registrar, a total of 4,216 candidates with disabilities registered for the UTME through the Equal Opportunity platform over the last ten years. Of this number, 2,234 candidates, representing 53 percent, were offered admission into various tertiary institutions across the country.
Professor Oloyede described the figure as encouraging but noted that more work needed to be done to ensure that candidates with disabilities are not left behind in the pursuit of higher education. He emphasised that the Equal Opportunity Group was established specifically to address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing tertiary education, including barriers related to examination administration, admission processes, and institutional support systems.
A Decade of Commitment
The Equal Opportunity Group was introduced by JAMB as part of its broader commitment to equity and inclusion in Nigeria’s education sector. The platform provides a dedicated channel for candidates with disabilities to register for the UTME and access support services during the examination and admission processes.
Over the past decade, the initiative has evolved to include special provisions such as extended time for candidates with certain disabilities, the provision of sign language interpreters, the use of braille materials, and other accommodations designed to level the playing field for all candidates.
Challenges Remain
Despite the progress recorded, stakeholders at the retreat acknowledged that significant challenges persist. These include inadequate infrastructure in many institutions to accommodate students with disabilities, insufficient awareness among admission officers about the needs of such candidates, and limited access to assistive technologies that could enhance learning outcomes.
Professor Oloyede called on all stakeholders, including tertiary institutions, government agencies, and civil society organisations, to redouble their efforts in creating an enabling environment for students with disabilities. He stressed that inclusion is not merely a matter of policy but a fundamental right that must be upheld by all.
A Call for Greater Awareness
The retreat also provided a platform for persons with disabilities to share their experiences and advocate for greater awareness and sensitivity within the education system. Many participants called for more robust enforcement of existing policies and the development of new initiatives to address emerging challenges.
As Nigeria continues to strive for inclusive education, the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group remains a critical intervention, ensuring that candidates with disabilities are not denied the opportunity to realise their full potential through tertiary education.
