The Federal Government has unveiled a new programme to expand access to education for children with disabilities, promising that no child will be left behind.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed the plan on Wednesday after meeting with Hon. Mohammad Isa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, and the immediate past head of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. James Lalu.
According to the minister, the meeting focused on the Renewed Hope National Programme on Inclusive and Accessible Education, a framework to ensure children with disabilities receive support to learn and thrive, whether out of school or already enrolled.
In explaining the need, Alausa said the initiative responds to a pressing reality. Many children with disabilities remain outside the school system, while millions more who are enrolled still face barriers ranging from inaccessible infrastructure to limited specialised teaching support.
He stressed that the programme sets ambitious goals. It aims to enroll 2m children with disabilities, retrofit 10,000 public schools for accessibility, train 100,000 teachers in inclusive pedagogy, and expand access to assistive technologies and learning materials.
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“The reality is clear: while many children with disabilities remain out of school, millions more are already in our classrooms but still face significant obstacles. This must change and it will,” Alausa said.
Moving forward, the minister will hold an expanded meeting with heads of agencies and directors across the Federal Ministry of Education to align policy direction and accelerate implementation.
He emphasised that the initiative is about more than policy. “This is about dignity, equity, and unlocking the potential of every Nigerian child,” he added.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government says it is building an education system that works for all, ensuring that progress is measured by inclusion and no child is left behind.
Patience Ikuomola
