The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB), led by Executive Chairman Mr. Jolomi George Fenemigho, has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its recent initiative to deploy Artificial Intelligence to enhance the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for blind and visually impaired candidates.
This was contained in a statement issued today in Lagos by Mr. Fenemigho.
Fenemigho described the plan to integrate smart assessment tools into the UTME as a visionary step that, if properly implemented, could significantly expand educational opportunities for blind Nigerians. He cautioned, however, that without deliberate groundwork focused specifically on blind and visually impaired learners, the initiative risks remaining a lofty concept rather than a transformative reality.
According to him: “AI-driven exams sound impressive, but for blind candidates, technology without preparation is a new barrier in a different disguise. When many blind students have never had consistent access to computers, assistive software, or trained instructors, we cannot pretend that simply announcing AI makes the process inclusive.”
CITAB expressed concern over the wide gap in digital literacy among blind learners, particularly between urban centers and rural or underserved areas. Many primary and secondary schools that blind pupils attend, he observed, do not have accessible computer labs, reliable power, or teachers trained to support blind students using screen readers and other assistive technologies.
He stated: “You cannot demand that blind candidates suddenly navigate AI-powered examinations when their schools lack even the basic accessible tools required to build computer skills. True inclusion begins with accessible learning environments, not at the examination hall.”
CITAB therefore called directly on Local Government Councils and the federal government to establish fully equipped, blindness-focused resource centers within their domains, as well as inside primary and secondary schools attended by blind and visually impaired learners. These centers, Fenemigho stressed, must be staffed by competent, visually impaired computer instructors.
“These instructors bring both technical expertise and lived experience,” he explained. “They understand the practical challenges blind students face and are uniquely positioned to train them to use computers, screen readers, braille displays, and other assistive technologies with confidence and independence.”
To keep these centers operational, especially in rural communities where electricity supply is unreliable, CITAB urged the deployment of sustainable, renewable energy solutions, including solar power systems, to ensure uninterrupted access to accessible digital tools for blind learners.
CITAB further reminded JAMB and educational authorities that true inclusion is not a matter of performative policy, but a strict requirement of institutional compliance and functional access protocols. They urged the adoption of a bottom-up implementation strategy that prioritizes blind and visually impaired students. The AI-based examination tools, he said, must first be introduced and practiced within these resource centers and schools, giving blind candidates substantial hands-on experience long before they sit for high-stakes UTME exams.
He added: “You cannot spring AI-enhanced CBT on blind candidates who have only ever depended on human readers or braille question papers. They need time, training, and consistent practice with the very tools that will appear in the exam setting.”
To guarantee sustainability, CITAB called on Local Government Councils, the federal government, and JAMB to collaborate closely with blindness-focused organizations, technical experts, and private sector partners to secure specialized accessible hardware, such as screen reader-compatible systems, braille displays, and accessible keyboards, and to ensure continuous maintenance of these facilities.
Mr. Fenemigho concluded: “For blind and visually impaired Nigerians, technology will only be inclusive when it is backed by serious investment in accessible infrastructure, specialized training, and reliable power. If we truly want AI to open doors for blind candidates, we must first build the ramps that lead to those doors.”
Media Contact:
Office of the Executive Chairman
Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB)
Plot 408, Ajakaiye street, Abule-Egba, Lagos Nigeria
Name: Jolomi George Fenemigho
Title: Executive Chairman
Email:
jolomifenemigho@gmail.com
Phone: 08028743133, 08050428700
