Port Harcourt — The organisers of the Inclusive Spelling Bee have challenged the Rivers State Government to urgently improve special needs education infrastructure, following reports that the state has only one government-owned special needs school serving its 23 local government areas.
The call was made during the 5th edition of the Inclusive Spelling Bee, held at the Special Needs School, Creek Road, Port Harcourt. The event brought together children with diverse abilities to compete in a literacy contest aimed at promoting inclusive education and equal learning opportunities for all.
Speaking at the programme, the Convener of the Inclusive Spelling Bee, Funmilola Arike Ogunro, said the competition, which began in Lagos and later moved to Ogun State, was designed to give children with disabilities a platform to showcase their academic talents.
She expressed concern over the limited access to special needs education in Rivers State and urged the government to establish special needs units in existing public schools and increase funding for assistive technologies and trained special education teachers.
In his keynote address, the Director of Disability Studies at the Federal University of Technology, Lafia, Professor Adaka T. Ahon, described inclusive education as a fundamental right that must move beyond policy declarations to concrete action.
He stressed that millions of children with disabilities remain excluded from education due to structural barriers. Several dignitaries attended the event, including the Zonal District Director of the Ministry of Education, Gokana, Mr Billo Jude Ngbar; Chairman of the Zonal Directors’ Forum, Rivers State, Mr Handsome Elijah; former Rivers State JONAPWD Chairman, Mr Kie Obomanu; and Chairman of the Rivers State Association of the Deaf, Comrade So-oriari T. Beneth.
The event concluded with the presentation of an award to Professor Ahon for his outstanding commitment to disability inclusion and education in Nigeria. All contestants were also honoured with gold medals and gift packs.
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2 comments
Truly, we need more support for the special needs children in Rivers State and across Nigeria.
And that is why we will not back down on our advocacy until we see policy action.
This is very commendable. I wish the government will act. I also want more organization to spring up and support the FDF so that more children with disability will enjoy inclusion.