The delay in releasing the May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results of blind candidates has been described as an injustice and denial of equal educational opportunities.
A disability-inclusive development and public policy specialist, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, raised the concern, saying the results of blind candidates were yet to be released nearly two weeks after those of sighted candidates.
Adebayo said the delay could cause affected candidates to miss admission opportunities into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions. He cited the University of Ilorin, where the deadline for uploading and verifying WAEC results on its admission portal was 3 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026.
He noted that delays in releasing WAEC results for blind candidates had persisted for decades, with some students reportedly losing admission opportunities as a result. According to him, blind candidates sit for the examination at the same time as their sighted counterparts and should therefore not be subjected to unnecessary delays.
Adebayo described the situation as unjust, discriminatory and unfair, arguing that it undermines the rights of blind candidates to equal educational opportunities guaranteed under Nigeria’s legal and policy frameworks.
He called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to immediately release the complete results of all blind candidates and ensure that their examination scripts are properly marked and graded.
He also urged WAEC to convene a multi-stakeholder consultation involving government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, special education experts, parents and organisations of persons with disabilities.
Adebayo further advocated the development of Standard Operating Procedures for the administration of examinations for candidates with disabilities to prevent recurring delays.
He warned that continued delay could lead disability organisations, advocates, parents and other concerned Nigerians to pursue peaceful protests and legal action, stressing that blind candidates should not be made to suffer for delays beyond their control.
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