The Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, has reaffirmed the university’s dedication to creating an inclusive educational environment where every member of the university community actively participates in all aspects of campus life.
The Vice Chancellor stated this on Thursday at the 2024 International Day of Persons Living with Disabilities which was organised by the institution’s Disability Support Office and the Department of Special Education.
This year’s day was themed “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Creating an Accessible and Equitable World”.
Highlighting several policies implemented by the University, Professor Jimoh emphasised that KWASU would continue to explore innovative ways to enhance the experiences of staff and students with disabilities by providing accessible facilities across the campus.
Among the initiatives he listed were a school fee waiver of ₦100,000 for all students living with a disability, a ₦50,000 monthly allowance for staff with disabilities, and increased employment opportunities for sign language interpreters. Other measures include the representation of students with disabilities in the student union and the establishment of a Disability Support Office, among others.
Professor Jimoh explained that these initiatives are designed to support staff and students with disabilities because the institution’s management believes that everyone, regardless of ability, has the right to fully participate in all aspects of life.
“Let us remember that our gathering here is more than a ceremony—it is a reminder of our collective responsibility to advocate for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,” he said.
The convener of the event, Professor Olubukola Christianah Dada, who is also the Coordinator of the Disability Support Office and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), in her opening speech, stated that the theme of the 2024 IDPD was a call for collaborative action to build an inclusive society.
Professor Dada noted that the theme not only encourages inclusion but also underscores the importance of partnering with persons living with disabilities to develop policies that foster a truly equitable society.
The guest speaker at the event, Professor Julius Abiola Ademokoya, a professor of Special Education at the University of Ibadan, emphasized the need for the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in every aspect of the socio-cultural, political, and economic spheres of the country.
According to Professor Ademokoya, United Nations statistics indicate that in developing countries like Nigeria, one in six individuals has significant disabilities. He stressed the importance of creating avenues for PWDs to contribute to the economy.
He called on the government and members of academia to generate innovative ideas to eliminate the socio-cultural barriers that hinder the inclusion of PWDs in Nigeria.
As part of the 2024. celebration, a sensitization walk was organized with KWASU students with disabilities, students of the Department of Special Education, alongside staff and students of special and inclusive primary schools invited to the celebration. Participants were brightly dressed in colourful yellow T-shirts, adding vibrance to the event.