No fewer than 577 visually impaired candidates are getting ready to participate in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME at 11 locations nationwide.
Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group, informed the press on Thursday about the upcoming 2024 UTME for visually impaired candidates and others with special needs assigned to JEOG.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, established the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group in 2017 to effectively manage visually impaired candidates and others with special needs.
Okebukola mentioned, “For the first time, JAMB, through JEOG, will be implementing the bimodal system of UTME administration this year.
“This means offering both Fully-Braille and Fully Read-Aloud options. Candidates can choose their preferred mode. JEOG has been supported by JAMB to ensure the experience of both test administration modes is enjoyable for the candidates.
“With a total of 577 visually impaired candidates, the 2024 UTME marks the highest number. There were 348 in 2022, and 313 in 2023. The increase in 2024 is largely due to increased advocacy by JEOG, a process that will be further strengthened in the upcoming years.” he stated.
Okebukola, who is also the President of the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi-Africa), referred to Oloyede as a key supporter of equal access to higher education in Africa.
He remarked, “Over the past four days, I have consulted with GUNi-Africa members regarding how visually impaired candidates aspiring for higher education are treated in their countries. All agree that Nigeria, through Professor Oloyede, stands out as the best.”
Furthermore, Okebukola pointed out that “this year, all visually impaired candidates who are prima facie qualified for admission to higher learning institutions in Nigeria (with at least five O-level credits) will receive a refund of their UTME registration fees on the spot during the examination.”
The former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission mentioned that since 2017, Oloyede has been providing five other benefits to the candidates including free hotel accommodation, Braille equipment, customised t-shirts, free meals throughout the examination period, and transportation assistance for the candidates and their guides.
“No other African country offers such generous gestures,” he stated.
Okebukola stated: “This is why I have nominated Professor Oloyede for the CNN Heroes Award. We are rallying the support of the entire continent to back his nomination for 2024 and we will continue to nominate him until he is conferred with the award that he truly deserves.”
Regarding the distribution of the candidates and the centre coordinators, many of whom are former Vice-Chancellors, Okebukola mentioned that “Kano has the highest number with 138, coordinated by Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello, former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University.
Following that is Lagos with 88 candidates, headed by Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, former VC of LASU. Other locations include Abuja (60) coordinated by Professor Sunday Ododo, Ado-Ekiti (37) coordinated by Professor Rasheed Aderinoye, Bauchi (44) led by Professor Salisu Shehu, Benin (26) managed by Professor Samuel G. Odewumi, Enugu (66) under the coordination of Professor Emeritus Mosto Onuoha, Kebbi (21) headed by Professor Asabe Kabir, Oyo (57) coordinated by Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Jos (24) led by Professor Nasiru Maiturare, and Yola (16) coordinated by Professor Muhammad Yakasai.
He mentioned that the exam is planned to happen on April 22 and 23 at eleven locations and covers 20 subjects.
He described that visually impaired students will complete the same test papers as other students and the standards are not lowered in any way.
