The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to host its inaugural JAMB Equal Opportunity Group African conference to improve access to higher education for persons with disabilities (PWD).

The conference, themed “Advancing the Potentials of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Educational and Economic Development,” will take place on 17-18 September 2024 at the National Universities Commission (NUC).

At a news conference in Abuja, JAMB registrar Is-haq Oloyede emphasised the need to ensure equal access to quality education for all, particularly PWDs.

He reiterated JAMB’s commitment to advancing equal opportunity access to higher education, ensuring a level playing field for PWDs, and providing assistive technology to facilitate learning and testing.

Mr Oloyede said the conference aimed to enhance the learning environment for PWDs in tertiary institutions and would attract participants from Ethiopia, Malawi, Egypt, and other African countries.

“Today, as we prepare for this vital conference, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing equal opportunity access to higher education for all, with particular emphasis on persons with disabilities (PWD).

“JAMB, through JEOG, has been at the forefront of ensuring that persons with disabilities are provided a level playing field in accessing higher education.

“It is not enough to simply open doors of opportunity; we must ensure that these doors are accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities,” he said.

He noted that JAMB had introduced initiatives to promote inclusivity, including specialised testing centres and assistive tools, and urged stakeholders to provide facilities for PWDs in tertiary institutions.

The conference aims to address critical challenges and explore innovative solutions to bridge the gap in educational access for PWDs, making higher education more inclusive and accessible across Africa.

(NAN)