Nigeria Refunds Exam Fees for Blind Students After Report

Blind students taking Nigeria's university entrance exam just got some welcome news: they'll get their registration fees back, plus the audio study materials they were promised.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced the changes this week after visually impaired candidates reported paying $5.30 registration fees they were told would be waived. They also received only hard copy study materials instead of accessible formats.

JAMB had originally said registration would be free for blind candidates and students with disabilities. But at registration centers across Nigeria, visually impaired students found themselves charged anyway and handed printed books they couldn't read.

Spokesperson Fabian Benjamin explained the board required payment upfront as a safeguard against fraud, with plans to refund students when they arrive for the exam. Blind candidates will receive their money back plus coverage for transportation, accommodation, and lodging for their guides.

However, students said nobody told them about the refund policy when they paid. The lack of communication left many feeling the board had quietly reversed its accessibility promise.

The Ripple Effect

The change came after TechCabal reported on the barriers blind students faced during registration. Within days, JAMB committed to emailing audio versions of required English texts to all visually impaired candidates once registration closes on February 28.

Benjamin said the hard copy books contain QR codes linking to digital versions, though he acknowledged this information was shared through radio and television rather than at registration centers. He insisted blind students should have known about the codes from these broadcasts.

More than 500 blind candidates sat for last year's exam at 11 specialized centers across Nigeria. Registration for the 2026 exam started January 26, with testing scheduled from April 16 to 25.

The board's response shows how advocacy journalism can push institutions to follow through on accessibility commitments, ensuring students with disabilities get equal access to educational opportunities.

For the blind students now preparing for their exams, the refunds and audio materials mean they can finally study on equal footing with their peers.