UTME: 28 visually impaired candidates write 2023 exams in Ekiti

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) says 28 visually impaired candidates will be writing the examinations in Ekiti.

The JAMB representative, Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye, stated this at an opening ceremony organised by JAMB Equal Opportunity Group for visually impaired candidates on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.
Aderinoye stated that the visually challenged candidates took the same test items as those who were not.

The don called on government to establish more special schools for the physically challenged students in Nigeria for equal rights.

He stressed the need for government at various levels to increase the establishment of schools for the physically challenged with a view to accommodating more special students across the country.

Aderinoye decried the situation, where most schools for the visually impaired and other challenges were privately owned, thereby denying most of the special students the opportunity to further their education.

He said the 2023 JAMB examinations for special candidates had commenced in eleven centres across the country.
He listed the states to include: Oyo, Lagos, Benin, Abuja, among others, where 360 candidates were accomodated, with only 28 writing their examination in Ekiti.

The JAMB representative noted that free accommodation, transportation, feeding and writing materials were provided for the special candidates having their exams in Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, covering the neighbouring states.

He maintained that the arrangements were to ensure that all physically challenged students were giving the opportunity to acquire tertiary education.

Wife of Ekiti Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, in her remarks, commended JAMB for equal opportunity to special candidates.

She said that such had contributed to promoting diversity, tolerance and acceptability among the physically challenged.

The governor’s wife noted that inclusive education was fundamental to human rights that every child deserved, which was crucial for development of the society.

She appealed to stakeholders in the education sector to continue to promote ideas that would allow students to thrive and reach their potentials.

The Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Edward Olanipekun, represented by his Deputy (Academics) Prof. James Ayodele, urged stakeholders to ensure that every child had access to education regardless of their physical or mental ability.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by top government officials, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr Bimpe Aderiye.

Others are the Permanent Secretary ,Ministry of Education, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi and University senior lecturers, among other stakeholders in the education sector.