Friends of the Deaf Int’l Foundation, an NGO, has urged subnational government to commit human and material resources to the development of special needs education in the country.
Mrs Funmilola Ogunro, Executive Director of the NGO gave the charge at the “5th Inclusive Spelling Bee Competition held on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The event was held at the Special Needs School, Creek Road, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, Ogunro, Convener of the Inclusive Spelling Bee, said the decision to bring the competition to Rivers State was driven by the belief that every Nigerian child deserves equal opportunities to thrive.
“We started this journey in Lagos, moved the fourth edition to Ogun State, and have now brought the fifth edition to Rivers State because we believe every Nigerian child deserves a platform to shine,” Ogunro said.
She expressed concern over reports that only one government-owned special needs school serves the entire state, stressing the urgent need for expanded access.
“With 23 local government areas in Rivers State, one school is clearly inadequate. This competition is also a vehicle to raise awareness and advocate for more inclusive learning spaces for children with special needs,” she added.
Using the platform of the fifth th edition, she appealed to the Rivers State Government for urgent reforms, including:
“Expansion of Access: Establishment of special needs units within existing government schools across the state.
“Funding for Inclusion: Dedicated budgetary allocations for assistive technologies and the recruitment and training of special education teachers.
“If a private initiative like ours can successfully host five editions across three states with limited resources, the government has no excuse for leaving these children behind,” Ogunro said.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Adaka Ahon, Director of Disability Studies at the Federal University of Technology, Lafia, described inclusive education as a fundamental right.
“Inclusive education means creating systems and environments that give all students equal access to learning.
“It must not remain a myth for the millions of children still excluded and facing insurmountable barriers,” he said.
The event climaxed with the presentation of an award to Prof.Ahon in recognition of his commitment to inclusive education and disability advocacy across Nigeria.
All contestants were decorated with gold medals and gift bags, as celebration filled the venue with music, dancing, and the cutting of a commemorative cake in honour of diversity and inclusion.
The competition featured children with diverse disabilities, reaffirming that intellectual ability is not limited by physical challenges.
Dignitaries at the event included Mr Billo Jude Ngbar, Zonal District Director, Ministry of Education, Gokana; Mr Handsome Elijah, Chairman, Zonal Directors’ Forum, Ministry of Education, Rivers State;
Others included Mr Kie Obomanu, former Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Rivers State; and Comrade So-oriari T. Beneth, Chairman, Rivers State Association of the Deaf, among others.
All contestants were decorated with gold medals and gift bags, as celebration filled the venue with music, dancing, and the cutting of a commemorative cake in honour of diversity and inclusion.
The Inclusive Spelling Bee is a literacy competition designed to bridge the educational gap between children with disabilities and their peers in mainstream education.
