The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to provide free application forms to persons with disabilities (PWDs) who intend to register for the 2026/2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The decision was disclosed in Abuja on Monday through a bulletin issued by the board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
JAMB said the initiative is designed to ensure that candidates with disabilities are not excluded from pursuing higher education due to financial or structural barriers. Hence, reinforcing its policy of inclusive access to tertiary education.
The board also confirmed that registration for the 2026 UTME began on January 26 and will close on February 28. It revealed that a total of N2,206,319,000 has so far been generated from the sale of UTME e-Pins across the country.
JAMB explained that, in line with its established practice, the free application documents for persons with disabilities would be administered through its Equal Opportunity Group, known as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG). The unit is responsible for coordinating examination processes for candidates with special needs.
Speaking at a meeting with critical stakeholders at the board’s national headquarters in Abuja, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Emeritus Is-haq Oloyede, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to the welfare and educational advancement of persons living with disabilities.
Oloyede said the free UTME forms were part of sustained efforts by the board to promote fairness and equal access in the admission process, stressing that disability should not serve as a hindrance to academic aspirations.
He listed beneficiaries of the initiative to include candidates living with Down Syndrome, Autism, Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), among others.
According to him, applicants must meet the minimum admission requirement of five credit passes in Ordinary Level examinations obtained in not more than two sittings to qualify.
“To support persons living with disabilities, JAMB will issue free application documents to all categories of candidates with disabilities. However, such candidates must possess five credits at Ordinary Level in not more than two sittings,” Oloyede said.
The registrar also disclosed that audiobooks would be made available to visually impaired candidates sitting the UTME. He explained that the audiobooks are digital versions of printed reading materials developed to enhance accessibility during examination preparation.
According to Oloyede, the audiobooks will be provided in common audio formats such as MP3, WMV and WMA, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices capable of streaming audio files.
JAMB stated that the initiative reflects its broader mandate to operate an inclusive examination system that accommodates the needs of all candidates while upholding academic standards and examination integrity.
