The Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) has called on Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, to fully domesticate the disability law and establish a dedicated disability commission in the state.
The appeal was made by the National President of NASET, Dr. Catherine Atteng, during the opening ceremony of the association’s 36th Annual National Conference held in Ado-Ekiti. The theme of this year’s conference is “Transformative Solutions and Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities.”
Dr. Atteng commended Governor Oyebanji for championing the cause of disability inclusion in Nigeria and described him as a model leader. She emphasized that full domestication of the law would unlock the potential of persons with disabilities (PWDs), making them socially and economically self-reliant and better contributors to national development.
“Through this law, those affected will become economically and socially self-reliant, crime-free and more productive citizens,” she said.
In recognition of his efforts, NASET conferred a Fellowship award on Governor Oyebanji and other distinguished individuals. Dr. Atteng noted that the governor had embedded inclusivity into state policy, positioning Ekiti as a reference point for disability inclusion in Nigeria.
In his keynote address, delivered by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, Governor Oyebanji highlighted several reforms and initiatives benefiting PWDs. These include the establishment of the state’s first therapy centre in Ado-Ekiti, provision of free therapy sessions, meals, and transportation, and the upgrading of facilities in three special schools to global standards.
He also mentioned the state’s efforts in preparing students with disabilities for national examinations such as WAEC and UTME, with many already securing university admissions. Other initiatives listed include economic empowerment programmes, vocational training, trade certification, start-up grants, and free healthcare for PWDs.
Governor Oyebanji stated that disability inclusion remains a cornerstone of his administration, evident in the creation of the Office of Special Education and Social Inclusion, as well as the Agency for Disabilities Affairs, all backed by the Ekiti State Disability Laws.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Adetoun Agboola, expressed gratitude to the governor for his unwavering support. She announced that the state will soon launch Nigeria’s first inclusive school in Ikole-Ekiti, scheduled to commence operations in September. According to her, the school will integrate children with disabilities alongside their peers, a move that has already sparked increased enrolment in special schools across the state.
Agboola reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to creating a more inclusive educational system and society.
