The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group has disclosed that 4,216 candidates with disabilities secured admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria over the past decade, with an average of 53% gaining entry annually into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

JEOG Chairman and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Emeritus Prof. Peter Okebukola, revealed this on Wednesday at the 2026 JAMB National Stakeholder Engagement on Inclusivity and Higher Education held at the NUC headquarters in Abuja, marking the 10th anniversary of the initiative.

Okebukola confirmed that candidates with disabilities are assessed under identical academic standards as all other UTME candidates, with no concessions made on cut off marks or examination content.

"We do not lower standards for these candidates. They sit for the same UTME, answer the same questions, and are assessed by the same standards as every other candidate. I am continually amazed by how excellently they perform. Many of them are exceptionally brilliant," he said.

He noted that beneficiaries include candidates with visual impairment, autism, Down syndrome, and albinism, adding that many had excelled in competitive disciplines including Law and other professional courses.

Okebukola said the engagement also examined how artificial intelligence could strengthen inclusive higher education in Nigeria going forward.

"One of the major issues that will shape the future of higher education is Artificial Intelligence, and we are examining how AI can improve the efficiency of inclusivity in higher education," he said.

Two publications were unveiled at the event. The first, "A Peep into the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria," was produced in honour of outgoing JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and features contributions from 44 scholars on the future direction of Nigeria's tertiary education system.

The second, "Early Start, Great Finish: Survival and Success; Manual for Underage Students in Nigerian Universities," authored by Okebukola, was developed after consultations with 468 scholars and underage students. It provides guidance for parents, lecturers, and administrators on supporting gifted students admitted before the age of 16, with emphasis on navigating bullying, emotional adjustment, and social integration. The first cohort comprises 96 students below that age threshold.

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Dr Sonny Echono, commended Oloyede for reforms that strengthened UTME credibility and expanded access for persons with disabilities. JAMB also presented awards to outstanding staff in its Information Technology Department and honoured tertiary institutions committed to admitting candidates with disabilities.