Lagos: A Professor of Special Education in the Department of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Samuel Adeniyi, has called for more family, community, and government support to ensure children with disabilities are fully included and empowered to thrive in society. Adeniyi made the call at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Excellent Child Support Initiative (ECSI) held in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adeniyi emphasized that inclusive education gained global recognition following the 1994 Salamanca Conference, which marked a shift from exclusion and segregation toward greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. He highlighted the importance of creating a sense of belonging for everyone, irrespective of status, gender, economic background, or disability.
Adeniyi stated that children with disabilities need empowerment rather than pity, asserting that every child has potential and abilities that can contribute meaningfully to society. He urged parents to reject negative cultural beliefs and discrimination, emphasizing that the home is the starting point of inclusion. Adeniyi advised against hiding children with disabilities or denying them opportunities, defining accommodation as providing every child with the chance to achieve their purpose in life.
He also called on teachers to view their profession as a mission to transform lives, rather than merely a source of income. Adeniyi urged communities and governments to ensure accessibility of public spaces, schools, and infrastructure for persons with disabilities, noting that inclusion starts at home, continues in school, and is completed in society.
Mrs. Kafayat Amidu, Founder of ECSI, shared that the organization began 10 years ago with six children and four staff members. Inspired by her son with cerebral palsy, Amidu said the initiative aimed to create a supportive environment for children with disabilities to learn and thrive. She expressed gratitude to various supporters, including the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs.
Parents like Mrs. Temitope Adisa and Mr. Moshood Shittu praised ECSI for the quality care and support provided to their children. Adisa described the center as a ‘home away from home,’ while Shittu noted significant improvements in his daughter’s condition due to therapy and learning at the center. They both appealed for increased government support for specialized schools catering to children with disabilities.
Shittu also emphasized the importance of early intervention and social interaction, urging parents not to hide their children with disabilities. He stressed that early exposure to supportive environments can help identify and nurture the potentials of these children, benefiting both the child and the family.