A total of 37 visually impaired candidates participated in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the Bauchi special JAMB Centre, held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Yelwa Campus.
The special JAMB centre is part of the federal government’s effort to provide equal opportunities for persons with special needs to achieve their educational dreams.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, the deputy coordinator of the UTME Bauchi Centre for the Blind, Professor Hadiza Isah Bazza of the University of Maiduguri, said the candidates were drawn from the four North-East Zone states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe.
Professor Hadiza explained that JAMB introduced the special UTME Equal Opportunity Group programme for the blind in 2017.
According to her, the initiative was championed by JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who recognised the need to support candidates living with disabilities, especially the blind and physically challenged.
“He saw that there are many persons with disabilities, the blind, the crippled, and others who, if given the opportunity, can perform excellently instead of ending up on the streets begging,” she said.
Hadiza added that it is the prayer of the JAMB Registrar that every blind student who completes secondary education should register and sit for the UTME.
She noted that the examination is offered free of charge to all blind candidates, with the government covering transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other logistics.
“When they pass the exam, universities admit them. Some universities have special education faculties with trained teachers capable of handling the unique needs of these students,” she said.
She however expressed concern that while the government at the highest level was doing well to support blind candidates, many stakeholders at the grassroots, particularly parents, were not doing enough.
Prof Hadiza urged stakeholders to create more awareness among communities to encourage persons with disabilities to access available educational opportunities, stressing that greater awareness would lead to higher participation in future UTME examinations.
The deputy coordinator also advised candidates to remain calm and motivated during the exams, emphasising the importance of discipline and adherence to the rules and regulations.
Also speaking, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Usman Shehu Usman, lamented that despite the state government’s investment in building schools, enrollment figures remain low.
“Unfortunately, our people are yet to realise that without education, nothing can progress,” he said.
Shehu assured that his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), would design a comprehensive enlightenment programme to encourage school enrollment, particularly among persons with disabilities.
“Many people do not realise that being disabled does not mean you cannot be educated. You can still attend school. Although, as I said, there is a lack of willingness among our people to pursue education, but with proper enlightenment, many persons with disabilities will be encouraged to attend,” he assured.
For his part, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Lawal Zayam, commended the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group for their efforts in uplifting the lives of persons with disabilities.
He urged parents to support their children, especially those living with disabilities, to develop their potential and secure a brighter future.
Zayam also assured that the Bauchi State Government will intensify awareness campaigns to ensure more parents and guardians take advantage of available special JAMB programmes.
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