Minister Commends NOUN’s Inclusive Hosting of Visually-Impaired UTME Exercise
The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, has applauded the commitment of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in providing a friendly, accessible, and dignified atmosphere for visually-impaired students to write their JAMB examinations.
The minister emphasised the current administration’s mission to ensure that no Nigerian is denied access to education due to disability.
She made this known in an unscheduled visit to the Abuja Centre of JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), located at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters, on April 29, 2025, the 2nd day of the exercise.
According to her, NOUN has built an environment where the differently-abled are welcomed, supported, and respected, turning policy statements into lived inclusion.
“NOUN has taken bold steps to make sure their doors are open—not just in word, but in structure, spirit, and service, and that’s the kind of institutional leadership Nigeria needs,” the Minister stated.
Ahmad hailed JAMB’s initiative to offer cost-free, specially designed examinations for visually-impaired candidates as a monumental step toward equity, stating that it is what happens “when leadership meets compassion, when you remove cost, remove stigma, and remove barriers, and give people back their dignity.”
She lauded JAMB’s Registrar, Emeritus Prof. Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, as a national figure of excellence, making it clear that his humility and vision have helped shape an exam system that prioritises integrity, fairness, and accessibility.
“In a time when malpractice has scarred our system, JAMB is showing that excellence without compromise is possible,” she said.
She encouraged the students to embrace the opportunity before them as the exam is a declaration “that you belong here, that you matter, and that your future is valid.”
Earlier while giving his address, JAMB Registrar, Emeritus Professor Ishaq Oloyede, reiterated the board’s unwavering commitment to inclusive education, particularly for visually impaired candidates.
Oloyede emphasised that inclusion is not merely a policy obligation, but a national responsibility and praised the National Open University of Nigeria for consistently demonstrating leadership in this regard.
According to him, JAMB’s enabled centres provide assistive technologies, support staff, and customised procedures that allow candidates to participate under dignified and equitable conditions.
“These candidates are not a burden to society, they are able, intelligent, and worthy of investment,” he added.
The Registrar also addressed an ongoing policy discussion regarding the exemption of blind candidates from mathematics and clarified that JAMB would not approve such an exemption until credible alternatives are developed.
“We are aware that in other countries, there are non-mathematics options for visually -impaired students. But we are not there yet. We won’t lower standards, we’ll work to create viable alternatives,” he stated.
The Registrar called on other educational institutions and stakeholders to emulate NOUN’s model and continue building a society where disability does not mean disadvantage.
He pointed to the collaboration with NOUN as a national example of best practice, praising the university for admitting visually-impaired students and investing in their success through tailored academic environments and infrastructural adjustments.
Speaking at the Abuja Centre during the 2025 UTME exercise, Professor Sunday Ododo, the Abuja Zonal Coordinator for JEOG, recounted the group’s journey since its inception in 2017, from a modest beginning with just five centres, to 11 strategically located centres across Nigeria, ensuring candidates don’t have to travel far to access opportunity.
He stated that in 2017, they had only one mode of conducting exams—read-aloud, but now, “we offer both read-aloud and fully braille options, with research ongoing to introduce computer-based testing for our candidates.”
According to the coordinator, one of the most heartening policies in recent years is the refund of JAMB application fees for visually-impaired students who already possess five credits before sitting for the exam.
“Last year, N6,200 was refunded to each qualified student, and this year, the figure rose to N7,200. Our way of saying: you are seen, you are valued, you belong,” he added.
Ododo noted that in 2023 alone, 70% of visually-impaired candidates under JEOG were admitted into tertiary institutions, many of whom found their academic home at NOUN.
While 44 candidates took the exam at the Abuja Centre in 2024, 39 did so this year. Some of who initially registered later but secured admission elsewhere, underlining the increasing accessibility of higher education pathways for these students.
Ododo also praised NOUN for adapting its infrastructure to support JEOG’s needs, from repurposing halls to providing ergonomic desks, showing that the partnership is dynamic and that inclusion isn’t just a gesture; but a commitment.
