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Special Needs News, Abuja Special Needs Therapy Host Training on Early Dyslexia Detection
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.
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Activists confess receiving N500m Naira to blackmail Tinubu’s Minister Matawalle, beg for forgiveness
Five civil society activists and media operatives on have openly confessed to being part of a N500 million coordinated blackmail campaign against the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and tendered an unreserved public apology to him.
The activists, led by Comrade Aryan Abdul Kareem, made the shocking revelation at a press conference in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
Speaking on behalf of Comrade Olumu Lucky, Comrade Olukayode Williams, Comrade John Osumbor Mark, and Engineer Bashir Muhammad, Kareem disclosed that the entire operation was sponsored and supervised by the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal Dare through his Spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris.
According to the group, Sulaiman Bala Idris personally convened several secret meetings where they were briefed, handed instructions, and provided with funds.
The campaign, they said, cost “above five hundred million naira” and involved recruiting social media influencers, bloggers, political commentators, conventional media houses, and prominent Zamfara politicians including Senator Kabiru Marafa and Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi.
“We were part of that machinery. We accepted money and roles to circulate damaging and false narratives against Dr. Bello Matawalle even though we knew they were lies. We chose financial inducement over conscience,” Kareem admitted.
The activists said their actions caused “serious emotional pain, reputational damage and distress” to the Minister, his family, and supporters, adding that after deep reflection, they decided to come clean.
“Today, we tender our unreserved apology to His Excellency, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and to every Nigerian who was misled by the falsehood we helped spread. We beg for his forgiveness and the forgiveness of the public. This apology is born out of genuine remorse,” the statement read.
The group further declared readiness to face any legal or moral consequences, stating that they possess “documentary evidence” of every transaction and meeting, including with Governor Lawal’s Spokesperson.
“We are ready to submit all the evidence and cooperate fully with the EFCC, DSS, police or any competent authority that wishes to investigate this matter,” they affirmed.
While urging other participants in the alleged plot to also confess, the activists said their decision was aimed at cleansing their conscience and helping to enthrone truth and accountability in Nigerian politics.
Nigeria’s security agencies have reportedly uncovered a plan by some opposition politicians to organise protests in Sokoto and other northern states against President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Fresh intelligence reports made available to journalists on Friday show that former Senator Kabiru Marafa is the main arrowhead of the plot.
The group is allegedly working to discredit NSA Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, by falsely linking them to bandit groups and using a Sokoto-based militia to trigger violent protests.
Sources say the Zamfara State Government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, is strongly backing the plan and providing funding, determined to paint the federal security team as incompetent and force the removal of both Ribadu and Matawalle.
Security operatives detected the scheme this week, monitored several planning meetings in Gusau and Abuja, blocked funding channels, and quietly disrupted the operation.
No arrests have been made, but all the key figures are now under close surveillance.
The key figures are now being monitored by security agencies to track their key sources of funding.
Nigeria’s security agencies have reportedly uncovered a plan by some opposition politicians to organise protests in Sokoto and other northern states against President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Fresh intelligence reports made available to journalists on Friday show that former Senator Kabiru Marafa is the main arrowhead of the plot.
The group is allegedly working to discredit NSA Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, by falsely linking them to bandit groups and using a Sokoto-based militia to trigger violent protests.
Sources say the Zamfara State Government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, is strongly backing the plan and providing funding, determined to paint the federal security team as incompetent and force the removal of both Ribadu and Matawalle.
Security operatives detected the scheme this week, monitored several planning meetings in Gusau and Abuja, blocked funding channels, and quietly disrupted the operation.
No arrests have been made, but all the key figures are now under close surveillance.
The key figures are now being monitored by security agencies to track their key sources of funding.
NUPRC’s Digital Compliance Systems, Licensing Reforms Positioning Nigeria for Stronger Energy Investment, says BusinessMetrics
Forgive your blackmailers and focus on helping Mr. President deliver on his security agenda, group tells Minister Matawalle
Activists confess receiving N500m Naira to blackmail Tinubu’s Minister Matawalle, beg for forgiveness
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