The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, has advocated for the establishment of a well-equipped support center for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in each geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
Speaking at the first Africa Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education (ARCEAHED), Oloyede emphasized the need for such a center to be attached to the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
According to the registrar, the center would work in conjunction with JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) to attract appropriate technology and policies that would make life and study easier for individuals with special needs.
Oloyede stressed the importance of inclusive education and JAMB’s commitment to fostering discussions on innovative strategies to enhance educational opportunities for all citizens, particularly those with disabilities.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, echoed the call for removing barriers faced by PWDs and creating conducive conditions for their education.
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He emphasized the collective responsibility of governments, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society in ensuring that PWDs are not left behind in the pursuit of education.
Sununu urged tertiary institutions to not only admit students with disabilities but also ensure that their campuses are accessible and equipped with necessary teaching aids such as braille, interpreters in sign language, and digital materials.
He also called on institutions to offer admissions to all qualified candidates with disabilities, regardless of their chosen programs.