The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has warned that Nigeria’s blind students risk being left behind unless the recently announced collaboration between the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) delivers practical reforms instead of “mere rhetoric.”
Speaking in Lagos, CITAB’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Jolomi George Fenemigho, questioned whether the partnership, led by NCPWD’s Hon. Ayuba Gufwan and JAMB’s Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, would result in measurable progress for blind candidates.
“When so many glaring issues remain unaddressed, one has to ask whether these talks are more about appearances than genuine action,” Fenemigho said.
CITAB lamented that high costs of assistive devices—such as braille math equipment and screen readers—remain beyond the reach of most families. It also criticized JAMB’s continued reliance on outdated exam methods, where blind candidates dictate answers to sighted officials.
“This approach strips candidates of independence and dignity,” Fenemigho noted, urging JAMB to adopt full computer-based testing (CBT) with adequate training on assistive technologies.
CITAB recommended that JAMB work closely with blindness-focused organizations to equip candidates with screen reader skills and conduct pre-exam mock tests to reduce anxiety.
“We need more than photo ops and handshakes,” Fenemigho stressed. “It’s time to roll up sleeves and deliver real change.”
The group pledged to contribute technical expertise and resources to ensure blind students are not left out of Nigeria’s educational reforms.
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