Foundation for children with special needs unveiled
An organisation, Fasabeks Hope Foundation, dedicated to supporting children with special needs and physically fit children, has been launched in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The founder, Mrs. Fausat Adetokunbo
An organisation, Fasabeks Hope Foundation, dedicated to supporting children with special needs and physically fit children, has been launched in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The founder, Mrs. Fausat Adetokunbo Sogoyinbo, said the foundation was established out of compassion and the firm belief that every child matters.
She noted that many children with special needs face barriers in accessing quality education, healthcare, emotional support and social inclusion and that they would ensure that they were catered for.
She said: “Disability does not define destiny. With the right support system, every child can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Sogoyinbo explained that the foundation is built on three pillars: holistic support, inclusive environment and empowerment.
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She further said Fasabeks Hope Foundation would provide comprehensive services that promote the physical, emotional and social well-being of children, while creating safe spaces where children of varying abilities can learn and interact together.
“Inclusion builds empathy. Inclusion builds unity. Inclusion builds stronger communities,” she added.I
In a keynote address titled, Investing in the Future: Empowering Special Needs Pupils for Success,community health physician, Dr. Issa Kamarudeen, emphasised that special needs education must not be treated as a structured and policy-driven responsibility.
Kamarudeen highlighted the categories of special needs, including persons with disabilities such as visual and hearing impairments, physical and intellectual disabilities, autism and albinism, as well as at-risk children and gifted and talented learners.
He explained that Special Needs Education and Rehabilitative Services (SNERS) require individualised educational programmes delivered across school, home and hospital settings, in line with global best practices.
He called for resource mobilisation through the establishment of resource centres, scholarship schemes, community outreaches, capacity-building workshops and provision of assistive equipment and ICT tools.
According to him, key stakeholders responsible for financial and structural support include government at all levels, agencies and parastatals, private sector organisations through corporate social responsibility initiatives, NGOs, faith-based organisations, philanthropists and international development partners.
“Empowering pupils with special needs is a shared responsibility that requires the commitment of every sector of Nigerian society,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to bridge the gap between disability and ability, stressing that investing in inclusive education is a fiscally responsible decision that secures the nation’s future.
