The Ford Foundation Research Team at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has initiated the process of creating a policy to protect the welfare of persons living with disabilities, hoping that the policy will be replicated across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The group organised a workshop to disseminate the findings of a baseline study, which aims to provide data for enhancing education support for people living with disabilities (PLwDs).
The event, which gathered university staff and students, was designed to create awareness, provide essential training, and generate strategies for improving the learning environment for PLwDs.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam, emphasised the institution’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for students and staff living with disabilities.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwuo, said that the university management has consistently prioritised the welfare of PLwDs by providing special considerations in admission, library access, hostel accommodations, and examinations.
He reiterated that the university is working to ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities to succeed.
The team leader of the Ford Foundation Research, Prof. Anthonia Achike, said that the Ford Foundation sponsored the baseline study aimed at gathering data on the number of people living with disabilities, their challenges, and potential areas of intervention.
He noted that the study’s findings would serve as the foundation for developing a comprehensive disability policy for the University of Nigeria, with the goal of extending the model to other universities across the country.
“This research will provide the necessary data to inform a disability policy that will be applicable not only at the University of Nigeria but also in other Nigerian universities,” Prof. Achike stated.
She added that the University of Nigeria’s involvement in the research would act as a springboard for similar initiatives in other academic institutions nationwide.
Samuel Ebifa, who represented students living with disabilities, expressed gratitude to the research team for their dedication to improving the lives of PLwDs at the university.
He spoke candidly about the struggles many students face, pointing out that what should be basic rights are often treated as privileges by those providing services to them.
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“We hope that this effort will yield a policy that will significantly improve the conditions of people living with disabilities at the University of Nigeria,” Ebifa said.
The workshop also featured presentations on how to best care for individuals with disabilities, as well as insights into their constitutional rights.
The event ended with calls for collective action to ensure that people living with disabilities are fully integrated into every aspect of academic and campus life.
