Why Nigeria’s special children’s education needs game-changing reforms–Stakeholders

Education experts, healthcare professionals, and parents, among others, have advocated for transformative change in special needs care with inclusive education and affordable therapy for Nigerian children with physical challenges.

The stakeholders made the call at the Special Educational Needs and Therapy Empowerment (SENTE) 2025 conference and trade fair, with the theme: “Practical Tips and Resources to Care for Children with Special Needs: Empowering Caregivers and Families” held recently in Lagos.

Many of the stakeholders who spoke at the conference emphasised that most parents struggle with the financial burden of catering to their special needs children, especially with the cost of therapy and assistive resources for their education.

Mudi Nwachukwu, chairperson of SENTE and chief executive officer at Rhimamory Resources, explained that the inspiration for the initiative came from a conversation with a mother at a previous special needs gathering.

Responding to a woman who once expressed frustration despite available resources, Nwachukwu said. “It became clear that beyond awareness, parents need practical solutions to their daily struggles.”

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In addition, she said, “Many parents of children with special needs are often shunned or told to ‘pray harder.’

“This forces them into isolation. but the overwhelming attendance here today shows that many are eager to engage, seek solutions, and understand that life doesn’t end with a diagnosis. These children can thrive if given the right support.”

However, Nwachukwu emphasised that therapy should not be a luxury to parents and the concerned children, but said that government and private organisations must step in to subsidise costs.

She stressed the need not to allow families to carry the burden of catering to their special needs children alone. She called for more inclusive policies in education and healthcare, urging government intervention to provide affordable therapy, accessible special needs centres, and public awareness campaigns to eliminate stigma.

“There aren’t enough special needs centres, and those that exist are too expensive. We need more trained professionals, and most importantly, accessibility for all, not just for those who can afford it,” she said.

All over the world, children with special needs are constantly faced with unique challenges that simply require them to have tailored support to thrive in everyday life.

For parents and caregivers, navigating these challenges can be quite strenuous and overwhelming, especially without the right resources or strategies to see them through.

The reality of this is certainly no different in Nigeria; hence, the SENTE 2025 was aimed at gathering caregivers and families of children with special needs and seeking practical and actionable strategies for addressing the numerous challenges involved in caring for children with special needs.

By emphasising evidence-based practices and real-life experiences, the event will serve as a platform for caregivers and professionals to connect, share knowledge, and gain new skills to enhance the lives of special-needs children.

Besides, it was meant to equip caregivers with practical tools for daily care and stress management and foster a supportive community for caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals.

Moreover, the conference was crucial to building awareness of the challenges faced by children with special needs and their families and encouraging collaboration among families, educators, and service providers to enhance inclusivity.

According to available data, 15 percent of teachers in Nigeria have formal training in special education, limiting their ability to provide inclusive and adaptive teaching methods.

About 40 percent of children with disabilities in Africa drop out of primary school due to inaccessible learning environments and lack of support.

Less than five percent of schools in Nigeria have specialised learning tools such as Braille machines, hearing aids, or adaptive communication devices, making it a hassle for parents of special needs children to pick the right schools for their wards, and not less than 78 percent of parents with children with special needs in Nigeria report a lack of support from schools in addressing their children’s unique learning needs.