By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The YieldUp Development Initiative, supported by the United States Embassy through its Window on America programme has reported an alarming 95.5 percent of children with special needs currently out of school in Nigeria.
Dr. Praise Akobo, Executive Director of YieldUp, revealed this statistics during a three-day intensive teachers training for special needs children held in Makurdi.
The training aimed to equip educators with the tools and strategies required to support learners with disabilities.
“Our research showed that the overwhelming majority of these children are excluded from the classroom due to a lack of adequately trained teachers. This is a critical gap we must urgently bridge if we are serious about inclusive education,” Dr. Akobo said.
The programme, hosted at the Moses Orshio Adasu University (formerly Benue State University), was sponsored by IREX and the U.S. Department of State under the Mandela Washington Fellowship’s Reciprocal Exchange component.
Dr. Doosuur Ashaver, Director of Window on America, stressed that the training was designed not only to address the educational needs of children with disabilities but also to empower teachers free of charge with globally accepted teaching practices.
“By equipping educators with the right skills, knowledge and compassion, we are laying a strong foundation for a more equitable and supportive learning environment,” she said.
Lee McManis, Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Mission Nigeria, delivered a keynote on the first day of training, noting the importance of global partnerships and inclusive strategies.
McManis also encouraged participants to apply for future opportunities through the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
Representing the Benue State Government, Special Assistant on People with Special Needs and Equal Opportunity, Bem Anshe, commended the organisers and expressed optimism that the training would significantly improve teaching outcomes for children with disabilities.
Participants were drawn from institutions including the Benue State Rehabilitation Board’s School for Special Needs, the School of the Gifted and Talented in Makurdi, and the Benue State University Teaching Hospital’s Therapeutic Centre.
The training wrapped up with a reminder for swift action to invest in inclusive education or else millions of Nigerian children with special needs will remain left behind.
