The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to the education of People With Disabilities (PWDs).
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, represented by the Public Communication Advisor (PCA), Dr. Fabian Benjamin, made this statement during the relaunch of the Stella Obasanjo Child Care Trust Centre on Thursday in Bwari, Abuja.
In a brief goodwill message, the PCA highlighted JAMB’s dedication to addressing the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing higher education in Nigeria.
He noted that the Board has established the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) to support candidates living with disabilities, provided free UTME application forms for candidates with five credits in O/L, and facilitated admissions for those meeting the minimum accepted mark for entry into tertiary institutions.
Dr. Benjamin mentioned that JAMB organized a two-day maiden National Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria under the auspices of JEOG. This conference, held in Abuja from September 25 to 26, 2023, focused on increasing equal opportunities for access to higher education.
He explained that critical stakeholders at the conference extensively discussed the welfare of PWDs, analyzed the challenges facing higher education in Nigeria, particularly for individuals with special needs, and proposed actionable solutions to improve national education policies. The discussions aimed to address inequalities in access to higher education for groups such as the blind, albinos, persons with autism, and those in correctional centres.
Dr. Benjamin also announced the upcoming first African Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education (ARCEAHED), scheduled for September 17-19, 2024, in Abuja. He encouraged attendees to take advantage of this regional conference to improve the conditions for PWDs.
He revealed that representatives from at least eight African countries would participate in the conference, which aims to advocate for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities across the continent.
The PCA reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to PWDs and encouraged well-meaning Nigerians to support this initiative and the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which aims to enhance the lives of these individuals and the broader Nigerian community.
Additionally, he highlighted various interventions by JAMB under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, including school adoptions, the deployment of educational staff to selected schools, the provision of essential amenities, health interventions, and the donation of medical facilities to Bwari General Hospital, among other efforts.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Distinguished Senator Babangida Uba on “Why Do We Care,” while Ambassador Prof. Steve Ugbah focused on “Appealing to the Horizon: Passion for Special Needs Children,” among other speakers.
