Parents and guardians of children with disabilities have called on the Zamfara State Government to transform the existing School for Special Education in Gusau into a full-fledged boarding institution. They also urged the state to establish similar special schools across the three senatorial districts to ensure broader educational access for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
This passionate appeal was made during a one-day stakeholder engagement forum on enhancing inclusion and empowering adolescent girls with disabilities through the Zamfara AGILE Project. The event, held at Barade Bouquets Hall, Ja’iz Hotel in Gusau, was organized by Media and Publicity Consult.
In his keynote address, Nasir Usman Biyabiki, Managing Director of Media and Publicity Consult, highlighted the objectives of the engagement, emphasizing the need to challenge harmful cultural and social norms that hinder the education of girls with disabilities. He stressed the importance of forging stronger partnerships between communities, the state government, and the World Bank-supported AGILE Project.
Echoing this commitment, Bashir Kabir, a representative of the Zamfara AGILE Project, reaffirmed the project’s dedication to eliminating barriers to education through community-driven approaches and sustained support systems.
Participants, including the Principal of the Gusau Special School, AbdulAsheed Muhammad Jangebe, alongside staff and parents, shared troubling revelations that over 100 students with disabilities had dropped out—largely due to the absence of boarding accommodations. They stressed the urgent need for government action to improve educational access and inclusivity.
Stakeholders also called for incentives to encourage the enrollment and retention of adolescent girls with disabilities. They advocated for the integration of vocational training into the curriculum of special schools to provide students with lifelong skills.
Additional challenges highlighted during the engagement included transportation difficulties and inadequate community support for families of children with disabilities.
The event featured interactive sessions such as focus group discussions, a Q&A segment, and a questionnaire exercise. It concluded on a generous note, as Hajiya Maimuna Adamu Dankwangila donated writing materials to students and their teachers.
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