The Federal Government has unveiled plans to expand access to education for children with disabilities, with a target to enrol two million learners under a new national programme.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this following a high-level meeting focused on advancing inclusive education in the country.
The meeting featured key stakeholders, including Mohammad Abba Isa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, and James David Lalu, former Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
According to the Minister, the initiative, known as the Renewed Hope National Programme on Inclusive and Accessible Education, is designed to address long-standing barriers faced by children with disabilities both in and out of school.
He noted that while many children with disabilities remain out of school, a significant number already enrolled continue to face challenges such as inaccessible infrastructure and limited specialised teaching support.
To address these gaps, the Federal Government plans to retrofit 10,000 public schools nationwide to make them more accessible to learners with disabilities.
The programme also includes the training of 100,000 teachers in inclusive education methods, alongside the expansion of access to assistive learning technologies and materials.
The Minister emphasised that the initiative aligns with the broader Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at improving equity and access across the education sector.
He added that the next phase will involve a wider engagement with heads of agencies and directors within the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure coordinated implementation.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive education and ensure that children with disabilities are not left behind in the country’s education system.
