Taraba State Governor, Colonel Agbu Kefas (Rtd.), has advocated greater understanding and support for children with special needs, emphasising the need for inclusive education that responds to their individual learning and developmental needs.
Inclusive News Network reports that the governor made the call on Saturday, October 10, 2026, during the launch of the Solution Nest Education Initiative (SNEI) and the unveiling of its book, See the Child First, at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Asokoro District, Abuja.
Kefas, reflecting on his family’s experience of initially failing to recognise the needs of his younger daughter while she was growing up, described the initiative as an important step towards improving the experiences of children with diverse learning needs. He also expressed interest in partnering with the initiative’s organisers.
The governor stressed that inclusive education must go beyond enrolling children in schools to ensuring access to trained teachers, appropriate learning support and an environment where every child feels accepted and valued. He linked the initiative’s message to Taraba State’s free education policy, noting that access to schooling must be accompanied by support tailored to individual needs.
The President of the Association of African Institutions (AANI), Obi Okafor, described the initiative as a call for Nigerians to look beyond labels and perceived limitations when relating to children. He emphasised that parents, educators, communities and institutions must work together to establish effective support systems for children.
The initiator of SNEI, Henrietta Ikediashi, said her experience working with children with special needs had demonstrated the importance of equipping teachers and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to individual learning needs.
She highlighted concerns about the treatment of children in schools and stressed that safeguarding, teacher training and understanding must be central to education. She also outlined plans for public awareness campaigns, nationwide training, an international conference in Abuja, a therapy centre and a specialised school.
The initiative, guided by the motto “Belonging Starts Here,” also plans to use therapeutic media, including music, pictures and sound, to support children at home, in classrooms and in specialised centres.
The launch, which coincided with World Mental Health Day, underscored the importance of recognising children’s emotional and developmental wellbeing as a shared responsibility.
Kefas urged families, schools and public institutions to create environments where children who learn, develop or communicate differently can thrive, declaring: “Before we judge, let us understand first. Before we exclude, let us enable. And before we see a label, let us see the child.”
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