Seasoned scholar and former Managing Director of Falcon Nigeria Limited, Prof. Joe Ezigbo, has unveiled the Joe Ezigbo Foundation for Dyslexia, aimed at raising awareness on dyslexia, promoting better teaching methods, and working with education authorities to enhance the way affected children are taught.

Speaking at the launch of the foundation in Lagos, Ezigbo shared his personal experience with his daughter, Chinelo, who struggled with dyslexia while growing up.

He recounted how he took her from one hospital to another, searching for answers, only to later realise that dyslexia was not a disease, but a learning system that required special teaching methods.

“The problem is ours, not theirs. We condemn these children simply because we do not understand them. My daughter struggled quietly in school, bright, creative, but misunderstood. At the time, I lacked the knowledge to recognise what she was going through.”

Ezigbo noted that one in every five children in Nigeria may have some level of dyslexia, adding that this realisation informed the need to create more awareness about the condition in the country.

“Dyslexia is not a disease; it is simply a different way of learning. We need to understand that these children are not lazy or unintelligent; they just need to be taught differently,” he stated.

He disclosed that the foundation aims to bridge the gaps in awareness, capacity, and policy that leave children undiagnosed, unsupported, and doubting their abilities.

Besides, it will create awareness, support better teaching methods, and work with education authorities to improve how children with dyslexia are taught.

“This is not just about literacy; it is about restoring confidence and dignity to children who are often misunderstood. No child should be denied a future because the system failed to understand how they learn,” Ezigbo added.

Chinelo, the professor’s daughter, also spoke at the launch, sharing her own experiences with dyslexia.

She recounted how she was often misunderstood, called names, and left to navigate her challenges alone.

“Different is not less, but for many years of my life, I believed that it was. I was not lazy or unintelligent. I simply learned differently.”

Chinelo’s breakthrough came years later in the United Kingdom when she was diagnosed with dyslexia. With support and accommodations, she was able to unlock her potential and complete double degrees in Mental Health Nursing and Social Work.

The foundation will launch a pilot programme in selected primary schools in Lagos State, focusing on early screening, teacher training, and classroom support, with the long-term goal of scaling the initiative nationwide.