Ekiti’s Inclusion Model Takes Centre Stage at Global Conference in Lagos

Ekiti State’s growing reputation as a leading force in disability inclusion and special education reforms came into sharp focus at the 2026 National Inclusion Conference held at Rugby School, Atlantic City, Lagos. Bringing together educators, researchers, and policymakers under the theme “Embedding Inclusive Excellence: Supporting Neurodiverse Learners in Every Class,” the two-day event highlighted measurable strategies for integrating special needs individuals into the wider society.

Delivering a compelling presentation on “Ekiti State Inclusion Journey,” Princess Adetoun Funmilayo Agboola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, highlighted how the Biodun Oyebanji administration has turned disability inclusion from mere political rhetoric into measurable action. The state has actively integrated persons with disabilities into governance based on competence, appointing seven individuals to strategic leadership roles and employing 41 others into state and local government positions.

To ensure equal opportunities from the ground up, the government overhauled its special education framework by upgrading public schools with modern therapy rooms, ICT labs, and trained specialist personnel.

These interventions led to a 30% rise in student performance in national examinations like WAEC and JAMB, enabling many beneficiaries to transition into tertiary institutions such as Obafemi Awolowo University and Afe Babalola University.

Ekiti has also pioneered critical healthcare and welfare support systems, including establishing Nigeria’s first free public therapy center for children with severe disabilities and offering free healthcare at primary health centers.

Furthermore, the state executed a free prosthetics program providing artificial limbs to 131 individuals, conducted mental health screenings, and set up a skills acquisition center that has already trained and empowered over 130 beneficiaries in vocational fields.

The state is similarly fostering social and athletic integration, resulting in Persons with Disabilities athletes winning gold medals at the National Sports Festival. With the recent launch of Ekiti’s first inclusive basic school in Ikole-Ekiti for neurodivergent learners, Princess Agboola urged other governments to adopt similar deliberate policies, proving that meaningful societal change happens when leaders actively prioritize the dignity of persons with disabilities.

Echoing the need for national reform, the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, lamented the inadequate implementation of inclusive education across the country. She emphasized that every child deserves equal opportunities in both public and private schools, urging teachers to remain motivated because neurodiverse children possess immense talents capable of contributing significantly to national development if properly nurtured.

In her remarks, Mrs. Lai Koiki, Chairperson of the Association of Private Educators of Nigeria, defined true inclusion as creating environments where every child is seen, supported, and valued for their potential rather than their challenges.

She identified teacher preparedness, flexible learning systems, parental involvement, and intentional leadership as critical drivers, calling for stronger collaboration among governments, specialists, and communities to build sustainable support systems.

The event concluded with insights from global inclusion experts, including Thomas Keaney, CEO of TCES Group, and Daniel Sobel, President of the International Forum of Inclusion Practitioners (IFIP).

They addressed participants on practical psychological approaches and classroom strategies designed to support neurodiverse learners, reinforcing the conference’s goal of helping special needs students maximize their abilities in both academic settings and the broader society.