Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has been named Nigeria’s Champion of Disability Inclusion by the Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET), as the association’s 36th annual conference kicked off in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.
The honour was conferred during the opening session of the conference, themed “Transformative Solutions and Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities.”
The governor was also inducted as a Fellow of the association in recognition of his administration’s pioneering initiatives to promote inclusivity for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
In her address, NASET National President, Dr Catherine James Atteng, praised Oyebanji for embedding inclusivity in state policy, describing Ekiti as a model for disability inclusion in Nigeria.
She noted the state’s “unprecedented accessibility” and commended Oyebanji for eliminating the bureaucratic bottlenecks often faced by PWDs in other regions.
Delivering the keynote address through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, the governor outlined several reforms his administration had implemented to enhance the lives of PWDs.
These included the establishment of Ekiti’s first therapy centre in Ado-Ekiti offering free treatment, meals, and transportation; upgrading of facilities in the state’s three special schools with modern equipment and qualified personnel; and successful preparation of students with disabilities for national examinations such as WAEC and UTME, resulting in increased university admissions.
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He further highlighted economic empowerment schemes, including vocational training, trade certifications, start-up grants, and free healthcare access for PWDs across the state.
Oyebanji reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to disability inclusion, citing the creation of the Office of Special Education and Social Inclusion and the Agency for Disabilities Affairs, both backed by Ekiti State Disability Laws, as crucial steps towards institutionalising inclusion.
He urged participants to ensure the conference delivers practical recommendations that advance the cause of disability rights, calling the effort a shared responsibility.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Adetoun Agboola, in her welcome remarks, thanked Oyebanji for his consistent support for the PWD community.
She announced that Nigeria’s first inclusive school would be established in Ikole by September, adding that the integration of PWDs with their peers had already led to a spike in enrolment in special schools.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Adebimpe Aderiye, lauded the governor’s “empathy-driven leadership,” describing the Office of Special Education and Social Inclusion as a “game-changer” that has fostered inter-ministerial synergy in service delivery to PWDs.
