UNN Honoured by JAMB for Advancing Inclusive Education Through Admission of Blind Students

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has received national recognition from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its commitment to expanding access to higher education for visually impaired students.

The university was presented with a Certificate of Recognition during the National Engagement on Inclusive Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium in Abuja.

The award recognised UNN as one of the top universities in Nigeria with the highest number of admissions for blind candidates during the 2025 academic admission cycle.

Representing the university at the ceremony, Pro-Chancellor Professor Adegboyega Adebayo Karim led the UNN delegation to receive the award.

According to JAMB, the University of Nigeria admitted 18 visually impaired students, placing it among the top 10 institutions in the country promoting access to higher education for persons with disabilities.

The recognition was presented under the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), an initiative established to ensure that qualified candidates living with disabilities, including the blind, deaf and persons with albinism, have equal access to tertiary education.

The initiative forms part of JAMB's broader efforts to promote equity, inclusion and equal educational opportunities across Nigeria's higher education system.

UNN's recognition also reflects its long-standing commitment to inclusive education, with the university maintaining a history of admitting visually impaired students dating back to the 1960s.

Among its notable achievements is the graduation of Emmanuel Nweke, a visually impaired student who earned a first-class degree.

The University of Nigeria is also recognised as the first Nigerian university to implement a comprehensive institutional policy dedicated to persons living with disabilities.

The policy, developed during the administration of Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya and approved by the University's Governing Council, provides a framework for removing barriers to education and ensuring equal opportunities for students and staff living with disabilities.

The latest recognition further reinforces UNN's position as one of Nigeria's leading institutions in promoting inclusive education and expanding access to quality higher education for all.