By NAN

Rofiah Oyekunle is a 13-year-old special girl with a deep-seated desire to become a teacher in the future.

Her physically challenged status notwithstanding, Rofiah shows no sign of submitting this precious dream to her disability.

Perhaps, being a pupil of Basic Special School, Adeoyo, Ring Road, Ibadan, is just the fuel she needs to keep believing in herself.

Of course, she reckons herself fortunate, knowing that her colleagues, unprivileged to attend special schools, have to stay back at home to watch their dream turn to a nightmare.

With this in mind, Rofiah’s determination to sail through the storms of disability became so endearing, as testified by Mrs Ganiyat Alabi, the headmistress of her school.

“That girl, if she writes or speaks for you, you will like it and adore her.

“Though she’s on a wheelchair with crippled hands, yet she writes, and she is intelligent,” said the proud headmistress.

Alabi, desiring more pupils in Rofiah’s standard, especially in Oyo State, said removing certain learning limitations would further aid the educational inclusiveness of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

She mentioned the long-distance pupils with disabilities had to travel to reach school, necessitating the need to reduce school days to two or three days per week.

“There are some pupils with disabilities who need to be stable and be around the school so that educating them will be easier than coming from home.

“So, distance is one of the challenges as well.

“There are some parents who have these children at home, but the stigmatisation and distance of taking them to school are barriers.

“It’s tough, especially when they look at the transportation fare, as they may have to spend between N3,000 and N4,000 daily.

“So, if you see some pupils once or twice per week, you should thank God that they could make it,” the headmistress said.

Alabi also identified the lack of personnel for different categories of disabilities present in special schools as another challenge facing inclusive learning.

The headmistress stated that there should be different classes for different disabilities to aid learning.

“Putting all of them together in the same classroom will jeopardise their learning because they are not all the same in terms of their disabilities and their degrees.

“For instance, those with autism see the world differently, but once we identify them and discover what interests them, we make that our focus.

“And sometimes, because some may be violent and disturb others, we ought not to put all of them together,” Alabi said.

While commending the state government for recently recruiting four special-needs teachers and non-teaching staff to the school, she asked for more intervention.

According to her, the lack of enough classrooms, teaching aids, boarding facilities, and teaching and non-teaching personnel constitutes a huge setback to inclusive learning.

“Sure, despite the new additional hands, we still need more teaching and non-teaching staff, and we need a hostel to be erected in the school compound.

“We have the space for that, and presently, we operate a temporary boarding facility which started in March but can only accommodate 20 out of the about 67 pupils we have,” Alabi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the nation’s Universal Basic Education (UBE) policy aims to make education accessible to all children, regardless of location or socio-economic background.

One of UBE’s objectives is to reduce the distance between schools and communities, making it easier for children to access education.

Findings, however, revealed that only 15 out of 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state have schools for pupils with special needs.

Ibadan has nine such schools, comprising both public and private schools.

The situation is heightened by the lack of a policy framework, such as the gender-responsive Education Sector Plan (ESP) in Oyo State.

This is a means to ensure every child, irrespective of gender, accesses good and quality education without any form of barrier.

So, having an ESP in the state has become imperative for the inclusion of children with special needs who are currently out of school.

A parent of a pupil with special needs, Mrs Anna Ogundipe, said she didn’t mind the stress of taking her child to a government-owned special needs school, despite the long distance.

“We live at Yemetu in Ibadan, and because of schooling, my daughter, with a hearing impairment, has to change from the regular school to a special school for the deaf at Eleyele.

“At first, I thought if she was amid those who could speak, it would help her to hear and speak, but when her condition was worsening, I didn’t mind the distance.

“I enrolled her at the Ibadan School for the Deaf, and her condition greatly improved over a short period.

“I believe it will still be better,” Ogundipe said optimistically.

Also, Mrs Oladunni Adepoju, Headmistress, Sabol International School for the Physically Challenged, reiterated the need for massive government support.

According to her, many of the children are locked away in their homes because of the negative attitude of parents and society.

“If we do not care and make provisions for them to show they are part of society, then we’ll have many more of them becoming useless and unable to contribute to the country’s development, despite their disabilities,” she said.

Attesting to the various government interventions at the federal and state levels in the school, Adepoju called for special funds for the education, feeding, and basic healthcare of special needs children.

Meanwhile, Mr Femi Ajulo, Chairman, Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), said the Oyo State Government had ensured the inclusion of PWDs in many of its programmes.

“Regrettably, while the government had included people with disabilities in its free education policy, many are still left at home with no access to education because of shame or stigmatisation,” he said.

According to Ajulo, there are about five to six schools for various categories of PWDs in the state.

“This has made it easy for them to get educated.

“The government has also provided a vocational centre for PWDs with a boarding facility, but it cannot accommodate everyone,” he said.

Ajulo believes the state ESP ensures inclusion and support for PWDs.

According to him, the government has promised to pay 10 per cent of the cost of schooling for PWDs attending private schools.

“Those who want their wards educated may not mind putting them in boarding facilities to reduce the distance challenge,” he said, acknowledging distance as a critical barrier to accessing education in the state.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, said the government has a very elaborate framework for the different categories of PWDs.

“We are thinking of inclusive education, and a lot of things are in place too; any time soon, it will be seen.

“What we are doing right now is to try and map where they are, how many of them are in schools, and how many are not in schools,” Adelabu said.

He said the government aims to bring those out of school back to school with different types of programmes outlined for them.

Ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State, an opinion poll conducted by 12 independent research organizations has projected Chukwuma Umeoji, a former lawmaker representing Aguata Federal Constituency and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the leading candidate for the state’s top position.

Addressing the media under the banner of Anambra Opinion Polls (AOP) on Saturday in Abuja, Tabuko Kennedy, Director General of the Nigeria Democratic Research Institute (NDRI), highlighted the survey results, which placed Umeoji significantly ahead of other contenders.

“This poll was carried out using scientific polling methodologies, including structured questionnaires, face-to-face and telephone interviews, and online sampling, ensuring representation from all 21 local government areas of the state. The findings reflect the true aspirations of Ndi Anambra, as gathered from a diverse cross-section of the population, including youths, professionals, traders, artisans, and traditional institutions,” Kennedy stated.

According to the group, after an extensive survey conducted over Six weeks, the results are as follows:

“RT HON CHUKWUMA UMEOJI (54.6%) The clear frontrunner receiving majority support across different demographics due to his perceived competence, grassroots appeal, and commitment to infrastructural development and social welfare.

“GOVERNOR CHUKWUMA SOLUDO (22.3%) – The incumbent governor, who retains significant support but faces challenges due to governance concerns, policy controversies, and shifting voter sentiments.

SEN. TONY NWOYE (15.8%) – A formidable contender with notable youth and grassroots support but struggling to consolidate broad-based appeal.
“SIR PAUL CHUKWUMA (4.5%) – Having served as a former Auditor in the main opposition party in the state, he has gained traction among certain political circles but has yet to establish widespread acceptability,” among others.

The AOP further analysed the strength of aspirants contesting for the number one position in Anambra based on the results from the poll.

“Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji (54.6%)
“Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji’s dominance in this poll is attributed to his grassroots connection, strategic political positioning, and reputation for pragmatic leadership. His extensive political career, including his tenure in the National Assembly, has earned him credibility among different voter demographics. His key support base includes traders, the youth, and local political structures that view him as a candidate capable of driving economic transformation in Anambra.

“His acceptance is further reinforced by his focus on people-oriented policies, particularly in areas of security, infrastructure, and job creation. His overwhelming lead in this poll suggests that, if elections were held today, he would likely emerge victorious.

“Governor Chukwuma Soludo (22.3%)
Governor Soludo, despite being the incumbent, has seen a decline in public approval. While his administration has implemented reforms, issues such as economic hardship, policy dissatisfaction, and governance concerns have affected his re-election chances. His support base remains relatively strong among technocrats, elites, and civil service personnel, but he is struggling to maintain a firm grip on the grassroots. Many respondents in this poll expressed concerns about the impact of his economic policies on small businesses and traders, which has led to a shift in voter sentiment. While he is still a strong contender, his re-election is uncertain unless significant political adjustments are made.

“Sen. Tony Nwoye (15.8%)
Senator Tony Nwoye, a former student activist and a politician with a history of strong grassroots mobilization, has a formidable youth support base. His experience in the Senate and previous gubernatorial runs have earned him recognition, particularly among students, young professionals, and those seeking an alternative leadership option. However, his campaign faces challenges in expanding beyond his core support base, as he has not fully consolidated the broader political structures required for victory. His growing numbers in this poll indicate potential for an upset if he intensifies his outreach efforts.”

On the poll credibility, the AOP emphasized the credibility of the 12 research organizations involved, noting their integrity, methodological rigor, and commitment to non-partisan electoral research.

“These organizations have a proven track record of conducting accurate, independent, and non-partisan research in Nigeria and beyond. These institutions specialize in political polling, electoral research, governance, analysis, and voter awareness initiatives,” the group stated.

As Nigeria joins the global community to mark the International Dyslexia Day 2024, experts have emphasized the importance of early detection and intervention to support children with dyslexia—a specific learning disability that primarily affects reading and writing.

International Dyslexia Day, celebrated annually on October 8, highlights its impact on literacy and learning.

According to the British Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that hinders reading skills and the ability to process and retain information seen or heard.

Speaking at an event organized by Special Needs News in collaboration with Abuja Special Needs Therapy Limited in Abuja, the CEO of Special Needs Therapy Limited, Happy Maram shared evidence-based methods to address the condition.

Maram underscored the need for heightened awareness, noting that dyslexia affects millions of children worldwide.

“Early detection is key,” Maram stated, detailing methods to identify children at risk. These include monitoring linguistic development such as difficulties with pronunciation and rhyming, observing struggles with recognizing letters and considering family history, as dyslexia often has a genetic component.

“It is not a disease but a reading difficulty,” Maram explained, “affecting a child’s ability to manipulate linguistic sounds and understand new words.” She cited statistics revealing that one in five children have dyslexia, with 80-90 percent of children with learning disabilities being dyslexic. Left undiagnosed, it can lead to challenges in school, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

Maram highlighted the benefits of early intervention, noting that 70 percent of dyslexic children who receive help in kindergarten or first grade develop proficient reading skills and discover other talents.

Ladi Patrick-Okwoli, founder of Special Needs News, called on government, policymakers, parents and educators to unite in creating and implementing policies to address dyslexia nationwide. “Many communities lack adequate support for children with learning disabilities. Our mission is to bridge that gap through awareness and training for families and educators, ensuring that every child receives the understanding and support they need,” Patrick-Okwoli noted.

She identified public figures such as Richard Branson, Anderson Cooper and Jennifer Aniston, whose success demonstrates that individuals with dyslexia can excel.

Parents and educators expressed gratitude for the training, with many reporting a greater understanding of dyslexia’s impact. “Before today, I did not know what dyslexia was or how it affected learning. Now, I feel more confident supporting my students and communicating with parents who might not understand why their child struggles with reading,” Jumai Makama, a local teacher said.

The event also underscored the importance of community partnership, with representatives of Lugbe Community pledging to support similar programmes. By fostering understanding and facilitating early intervention, this training marks a step forward in enhancing educational inclusion for children with learning disabilities in Lugbe and beyond.

Following this success, Special Needs News and Abuja Special Needs Therapy Limited plan to expand these initiatives to more communities, promoting inclusive education and improving awareness of dyslexia and other learning disabilities across Nigeria.