Stakeholders in the education sector have called for inclusive education for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to ensure equal access to learning and promote social inclusion nationwide.
The call was made on Friday at an international conference organised by the Faculty of Education and Department of Mass Communication, Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu.
The conference, with the theme ‘Inclusive Education and Disability Communication in Nigeria,’ was held in collaboration with the Sapphire Initiative for Special Needs and Disability, USA.
Vice-Chancellor of GOUNI, Prof. Christian Anieke, said inclusion and special education were rooted in shared humanity.
He said, “One human family; one Mother Earth; and one Creator,” stressing the philosophical basis of inclusive education.
Anieke added that the better Persons with Disabilities were supported, the more relevant they would become as educators and contributors to society.
He described GOUNI as one of the most connected institutions in Nigeria and beyond, with a growing international academic footprint.
The Vice-Chancellor said the conference provided a platform for students to interact with global scholars beyond Nigeria’s geopolitical boundaries.
He added that the university aimed to move from local relevance to competing effectively on the global academic stage.
In a keynote address, Prof. Cosmos Nwaokafor of Bowie State University, USA, said special education required strong communication among educators, students and parents.
He said effective communication ensured students with special needs received the appropriate academic and social support.
Nwaokafor spoke on “Special Education and Communication Awareness: Building Bridges Using Communication Skills and Strategy to Overcome.”
He defined communication as the transfer of information and ideas from one person to another through specific channels.
He emphasised the use of technology, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices, to support people with communication impairments.
According to him, such tools help individuals express thoughts and needs when verbal or written language proves difficult.
Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Ekene Osuji, said inclusive education was a fundamental human right.
He noted that persistent segregation of some groups highlighted the need for social justice within the education system.
Osuji called for effective policy implementation, access to mainstream education, and proper training of teachers to address inclusion challenges.
Special Adviser to Gov. Peter Mbah on Education and Innovation, Dr Chinyere Onyeishi, commended the university for hosting the conference.
She described the programme as an eye-opener addressing societal problems often ignored by private, public and government institutions.
Onyeishi said the conference was timely and impactful, reflecting a shared commitment to addressing issues affecting Persons with Disabilities.
President of Einstein Advocate, Mary-Elizabeth Merrill, said inclusive education depended on dedicated and highly professional teachers.
She said communication with persons with special needs begins with listening differently and observing behavioural changes and non-verbal responses.
Merrill added that inclusive practices should be locally and culturally tailored to achieve more effective and sustainable outcomes.