The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to making higher education more accessible for persons with disabilities through the strategic deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and stronger stakeholder collaboration. The commitment was reiterated during the National Engagement on Inclusive Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence held on Wednesday July 1 in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), established a decade ago, has continued to remove barriers for candidates with special needs. He noted that the forum provided an opportunity to review progress made over the past 10 years and identify new strategies to deepen inclusive education in Nigeria.
JEOG Chairman, Prof. Peter Okebukola, disclosed that more than 4,200 candidates with disabilities have benefited from the initiative through free transportation, accommodation, assistive devices and other support services during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). He described AI as a powerful tool capable of transforming access to education when intentionally designed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
Representatives of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) also stressed the importance of embracing AI across Nigeria’s education sector. They revealed ongoing efforts to integrate AI into university and technical education curricula.
As part of the programme, JAMB honoured tertiary institutions that admitted the highest number of candidates with disabilities during the 2025 admission exercise. The board also recognised institutions promoting AI-driven inclusive education, celebrated top-performing UTME candidates with disabilities, and presented awards to outstanding staff members.
The event featured the unveiling of two publications, including A Peep into the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria, published in honour of Prof. Oloyede, and Early Start, Great Finish: Survival and Success Manual for Underage Nigerian University Students, authored by Prof. Okebukola.
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