NGO challenges Delta govt, stakeholders on inclusive education
For persons with disabilities in Delta State, discrimination often begins long before adulthood — in classrooms that shut them out and systems that were never designed with them in mind.
For persons with disabilities in Delta State, discrimination often begins long before adulthood — in classrooms that shut them out and systems that were never designed with them in mind.
At a recent advocacy engagement in Asaba, the state capital, disability rights campaigners made it clear: inclusion is not a favour, it is a legal right.
In a bid to promote the fundamental rights and protection of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), TAF Africa, has called on the state government and relevant stakeholders to embrace inclusive education in line with the National Disability Law enacted in 2018.
The call was made during a two-day Media Engagement, Advocacy and Journalists’ Training held in Asaba.
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The event was organised by TAF Africa under its Disability Rights Advocacy and Public Interest Development (D-RAPID) Project.
Speaking at the engagement, the Programme Coordinator of TAF Africa, Dr. Andrew Adaji, said persons with disabilities should be educated alongside other members of the society, rather than being isolated in segregated learning environments.
He said the National Disability Law promoted inclusive education, noting that the continued reliance on special schools could further widen the social gap between persons with disabilities and their non-disabled peers.
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Adaji referenced Delta State Protection of Persons with Disability Law, 2024, particularly Section 15 (Right to Education), Subsection 3, which mandated the government to endeavour to establish at least one special public school for persons with disabilities at both primary and secondary levels in each of the state’s 25 local governments.
Acknowledging the good intentions behind the provision, he stressed the need for Delta State Government to review and amend the law to align with global best practices that prioritised inclusive education over segregation.
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He highlighted the importance of specially-trained teachers who could support inclusive learning environments, as well as the establishment of functional resource centres in schools equipped with appropriate learning aids for persons with disabilities.
Beyond education, Adaji also called for improved access to health care services, urging hospitals to provide sign language interpreters for persons with hearing impairments.
He said public buildings must either be designed or modified to accommodate persons with disabilities, including the installation of ramps and designated parking spaces.
Addressing reporters during the training, Senior Communication Officer, TAF Africa, Lynn Agwuncha, urged media practitioners to leverage the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act as a powerful tool for promoting disability inclusion.
She said the FOI Act, enacted in 2011, was designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and citizen participation in governance.
According to her, journalists can deploy the law to demand information on government compliance with disability inclusion policies, including employment quotas for persons with disabilities and accessibility status of public buildings.
The highlight of the event was an interactive session that allowed participants to propose solution to the persistent discrimination faced by persons with disabilities.
Among the key recommendations adopted was the strategic use of disability-focused jingles and advocacy messages across media platforms, to raise awareness and drive lasting attitudinal change.
