By Uzair AdamThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially launched the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for special needs candidates across the country.
The initiative is part of JAMB’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian student is excluded from pursuing higher education.
At a press briefing held at the BUK’s School of Continuing Education in Kano, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello, Coordinator of the Kano Centre for the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), explained that over 500 special needs candidates are participating in the exams at 11 centers nationwide.
The Daily Reality gathered that the Kano Centre alone is set to host 92 candidates from across Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and parts of Kaduna states.
Prof. Bello clarified that the examinations, while tailored to meet the needs of candidates with disabilities such as visual impairments, autism, Down syndrome, and albinism, are of the same standard as those for regular candidates.
“The goal is to ensure that these candidates are not disadvantaged when competing for university placements,” he said.For the first time this year, special needs candidates are writing Computer Studies as part of their UTME subjects, marking a significant step toward inclusivity.
“This is a major breakthrough, with candidates from Kano and Lagos leading the way,” Prof. Bello added.
JAMB’s commitment to inclusivity is further reflected in the special accommodations provided, including free accommodation, feeding, and transportation for the candidates.
Additionally, candidates who meet specific requirements, like uploading their O’ Level results with at least five credits, are eligible for a refund of their registration fees.
The initiative, which started in 2017, has steadily grown under the leadership of JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who emphasized that the examinations must maintain the same rigorous standards as those for regular candidates to ensure fairness and equal opportunity.
Prof. Bello also highlighted the support the Kano Centre receives from local institutions such as Bayero University and the Department of Special Education, which help to facilitate the smooth conduct of the examination process.
He added that the 2025 UTME for special needs candidates is yet another milestone in JAMB’s ongoing effort to promote an inclusive education system, ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of their condition, has a fair chance to succeed academically.