The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that it spends over N200,000 to support each deaf candidate participating in its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
This was disclosed by the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a monitoring visit to the Centre for the Blind at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja. He was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad.
According to Oloyede, the investment ensures that deaf candidates receive equitable treatment at general examination centres, where all instructions are provided in written form, and special visual aids and badges are used to aid communication.
“It’s an expensive process—over N200,000 is spent on each candidate—but it’s a cost worth bearing,” he stated.
Prof. Oloyede also mentioned that candidates with more than five credits are refunded their registration fees upon showing up for the UTME, describing the initiative as a moral obligation to affirm the worth of every candidate.
“We believe in the potential of individuals with disabilities. Ensuring they feel valued is part of building a just society,” he added.
JAMB currently operates 11 disability-specialised centres across states including Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Kaduna, and the FCT. These centres were established to provide easier access for candidates within their communities.
The inclusive framework—developed in collaboration with education stakeholders such as Emeritus Prof. Peter Okebukola—also guides tertiary institutions on the admission and support of students with special needs. The results are already evident: over 70% of candidates with disabilities who sat for the UTME last year gained admission into higher institutions.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, commended JAMB’s efforts, highlighting its inclusive policies and the provision of comprehensive support—including transportation, accommodation, and personal aides—for all 501 candidates with disabilities writing the 2025 UTME.
“Without these interventions, many would never have had the opportunity to sit for the exam,” she said, praising JAMB’s role in advancing the federal government’s inclusive education agenda.
She also noted that the Board’s leadership in digital and inclusive examination practices sets a standard that other examination bodies like NECO and WAEC will soon follow.
Prof. Sunday Ododo, Centre Coordinator at NOUN, expressed appreciation for JAMB’s consistent commitment, calling the initiative “a national commitment to human dignity.”
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