Introduction INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
Nigeria's National Policy on Inclusive Education,2023, provides that all learners, regardless of background or ability, have access to quality education and participate actively in a safe and welcoming learning environment The policy focuses on providing reasonable adjustments and support to meet diverse learning needs, promoting full participation and respect for the rights of all learners. The principles of inclusive education include: Universal Access, safe and inclusive environment, reasonable accommodation and support, focus on diverse learners and teacher training, collaboration and stakeholder engagement
About 2 percent of children with disabilities receive formal education, highlighting Some private educational institutions have keyed into inclusive school (partial or least restrictive environment) Many tertiary institutions train special education in Nigeria.
Center for Disability and Inclusion held its 7th edition of its Disability Right webinar on the 26th of May, 2025 The event was held on zoom. The theme of the event was Inclusive Education: Reality and Challenges
The event gathered Stakeholders in government, disability communities and the education sector who discussed how to promote inclusive education in Nigeria. Disability Right Webinar Series is a platform where stakeholders discuss the acceleration of the implementation of disability rights and inclusion in Nigeria and in Africa.
The 7th edition was focused on inclusive education and practical strategies and steps to promote equitable learning opportunities for all students regardless of their backgrounds, needs, identity and ability.
This report captures the highlights of the event Speakers at the webinar include Adetoun Agboola, Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Social Inclusion and Special Education and David Oludaye, Special Education Expert The session was moderated by Oladotun Busola
Summaryof discussion
Inclusive Education is an approach to education which emphasizes all individual regardless their intellectual, mental alertness are allowed to take their education from the mainstream school. Inclusion is not pulling some students in one class and keeping neurodivergent in another class. However, we have full inclusion school and least restrictive environment because each has certain needs as the classroom teacher may not be trained to handle or meet the therapy. In a least restrictive school, a child with special need can be pulled out for attention.
Such education must ensure equity, respect and value everyone. It must cover everyone but encourages active participation of every child. But in reality, today, there is quite a lot of challenges even though we must recognize some private educational institutions that are taking the lead
Some of the challenges lack of training and lack of proper capacity of classroom teachers. Also insufficient resources. To solve inclusion issues at social and educational level, disability cares is very expensive.
To make it work, there is need to prioritize appointment of teachers with disabilities. In many special schools, there are not many teachers with qualified teachers with disabilities In addition to excel, there is need for regular measurement and evaluation process which helps teachers to understand the learning needs of pupils who come in for admission in schools
We must also prioritize engagement of every relevant stakeholders- adult with disabilities, care givers, children with disabilities, policy makers as well as organizations of persons with disabilities etc..
An overlooked part in making inclusive education work is that examination parameters must be different and not judged in the same way. But if we must make this work, we must embrace technology. Paying attention to the use of assistive technology as well as embrace accessibility in our daily gadgets.
Recommendations
Data is an important component of inclusive education as it will help in identifying student needs and planning, track progress and for policy and decision making.
-Hiring special teacher including teachers with disability and continuous teacher’s training plays an important role to success of inclusive education
-Collaboration and Stakeholder engagement is important to effectively implement inclusive education. Learners with disabilities are the most important as they teach how to be taught. They come before other stakeholders: government, teachers, parents, and the community.
-Assessment is essential for inclusive education as it helps special educators understand the diverse needs of learners with disabilities.
-More funding should be allocated to inclusive education because it is expensive and requires not only special educators but multidisciplinary teams to address the diverse needs of learners.
-There is a need for increased access to digital literacy training and assistive technology and accessible computer software, hardware, innovations and technologies to avoid digital exclusion for learners with disabilities.
-There must be government commitment to curriculum modification, universal design and reasonable accommodations for learners with disabilities.
About CentreforDisabilityandInclusionAfrica
Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa (registered as Sage Initiative for Disability and Inclusion) is established to create an inclusive sustainable and transformative society across Africa Though headquarters is based in Nigeria, its activities spread across Africa.
The Centre works in four key areas: Policy, Advocacy, Media PWDs rights.
The Centre through its policy work collaborates with stakeholders in agenda setting, promotion of accountability and implementation OF workplace and social inclusion, housing, health, education and transportation rights/protocols. CDIA continuously demands implementation of processes and strategies that leave no one behind It also supports building of practical skills which can make this achievable.
