Prof. Ozegya makes strong case for disabled students
|By Musa Ishaq
Abu Egwa Ozegya, a professor of special needs education and rehabilitation sciences in the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), has made a case for the education of impaired children, saying that their development should be accorded priority..
According to Ozegya, the need for better funding of education for children with special needs cannot be overemphasised.
Ozegya said that proper funding of impaired children’s education would advance effective learning and inclusivity in Nigeria.
Ozegya, a lecturer at the Department of Special Needs Education in FULafia, made his recommendations while delivering the 18th professorial inaugural lecture of the institution.
Ozegya’s inaugural lecture was titled: “Communication Strategies, Inclusive Practices and Education of Children with Hearing Impairment.”
The event was held a the MIS Multi-Purpose Hall, Permanent Site Campus of the University.
Ozegya lamented that “although inclusive education had begun in most states of Nigeria, many of the schools are ill-equipped, specialist teachers are inadequate for providing technical support services and there is lack of political will to implement the stated policies and worse still, children with special needs in the inclusive school pay for their school fees at all levels of education.”
He suggested that “to achieve inclusive education, all stakeholders such as the teachers, parents, curriculum developers, government, support service providers and children with hearing impairment must be prepared to offer opportunities for educating all the children in the inclusive programme.
He called on the Management of FULafia “to expand the FULafia Academy to primary and secondary schools and make it a model of inclusion to accommodate learners with disabilities and provide good grounds for students of the Faculty of Education for teaching practice exercise.”
He urged the University to establish institute of education that would cater for the training needs of “in-service teachers in Nasarawa State and Nigeria in general.”
The Vice-Chancellor of FULafia, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, earlier in his address, congratulated Ozegya and his family, applauding him for his contributions to the development of students of special needs education of FULafia.
Welcoming the participants to the occasion, Prof. Josephine Odey, the Chairman of the Inaugural Lecture Committee of the University, said that Ozegya’s contributions to knowledge have added value to the students with special needs.
She commended FULafia for being an institution in Nigeria to truly practice inclusive education for the students with special needs.
The lecture was attended by well-wishers and dignitaries including the Osana of Keana, Alhaji Abdullahi Amegwa Agbo III, Hon. Mugu Yusuf, member, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Margaret Elayo, Commissioner, Special Duties, Humanitarian Services and NGOs, Nasarawa State, Osakyio of Owusakyio, Mr Osula Inarigu JP, lecturers from FULafia, University of Jos, University of Ibadan, NSUK, College of Education, Pankshin, and many staff and students from some universities in Nigeria.
The occasion climaxed with the presentation of certificate, plaque and gift to Ozegya by the Vice-Chancellor of FULafia, Shehu Abdul Rahman.