At least 536 candidates with visual impairments have successfully completed the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), alongside other candidates with special needs throughout the nation.
Professor Peter Okebukola, the Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), announced this on Monday during a briefing for journalists at the commencement of the special UTME sessions held in Abuja.
Okebukola stated that these 536 candidates are taking the examination across 11 designated centres nationwide, with arrangements specifically adapted to meet their individual requirements.
Since 2017, the JEOG has been instrumental in offering comprehensive support, which includes free lodging for candidates and their escorts, meals, travel assistance, and specially designed examination materials.
Detailing the distribution of candidates, he highlighted that Kano State registered the highest number with 136 candidates, followed by Lagos State with 95, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) hosting 46.
Other examination venues are situated in Ado-Ekiti, Bauchi, Benin City, Enugu, Kebbi State, Oyo State, Jos, and Yola. Each of these centres is overseen by seasoned academics, many of whom have prior experience as vice-chancellors.
Okebukola expressed his satisfaction with the consistent improvements in admission success rates for candidates with disabilities.
During the 2025 admission cycle, 483 candidates with special needs applied for tertiary education, and out of this number, 252 successfully secured admissions, reflecting a 52.2 per cent success rate.
Candidates with visual impairments constituted the largest segment, with 429 applications, and more than half of them were admitted.
Candidates with other conditions, such as Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Dyslexia, also achieved significant admission rates, with candidates with Dyslexia notably securing a 100 per cent success rate.
He also observed a growing trend of candidates showing increased interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, characterising this as a positive development.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged the persistent difficulties faced by visually impaired students in pursuing science-related fields of study and indicated that efforts have been in progress since 2018 to overcome these obstacles.
Since its inception, the JEOG has facilitated the UTME participation of approximately 3,200 candidates with disabilities, and over a third of these have gained admission into various tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
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