By Anne Olurinde
Lokoja, 1st July 2026
In a significant move aimed at promoting inclusive education and ensuring that children with special needs are not left behind in the state’s educational development agenda, the Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has established a new department known as the Special Programme Department.
The department was created to specifically cater to the educational needs and welfare of pupils and students living with disabilities and other special needs across the state, in line with the government’s commitment to providing equitable access to quality education for all.
As part of its activities following its establishment, the Director of the Special Programme Department, Nuhu Isah Ameadaji, led a team of officials from the Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board on a familiarization visit to the Lokoja School for the Deaf and Special Needs, Zango Daji, Lokoja.
The visit was aimed at assessing the learning environment, interacting with school management, teachers and students, as well as identifying areas where government intervention would further enhance teaching and learning outcomes for children with special needs.
Speaking during the visit, Ameadaji emphasized that the establishment of the department underscores the determination of the Kogi State Government to ensure that every child, regardless of physical or learning challenges, enjoys the right to quality education.
According to him, the Special Programme Department has been mandated to coordinate policies, programmes and interventions targeted at improving educational opportunities for children with disabilities and other vulnerable learners in public basic education institutions across the state.
He noted that inclusive education remains a critical component of sustainable development, stressing that children with special needs deserve equal opportunities to develop their talents and contribute meaningfully to society.
The Director further conveyed the commitment of the Kogi State Government to the welfare and educational advancement of persons with special needs, assuring that efforts would be intensified to improve facilities, instructional materials and support services in schools catering to such learners.
He commended the management and staff of the Lokoja School for the Deaf and Special Needs for their dedication and resilience in nurturing students despite existing challenges.
Members of the SUBEB delegation also inspected facilities within the school and engaged stakeholders on ways to strengthen the delivery of special education services.
The visit was warmly received by the school authorities, who expressed appreciation to the Board for the initiative and the establishment of a department dedicated to addressing the needs of learners with disabilities.
Stakeholders described the creation of the Special Programme Department as a major milestone in the state’s quest to build an inclusive education system where every child is given the opportunity to succeed irrespective of physical, sensory or intellectual limitations.
Education experts have long advocated greater attention to special needs education, noting that adequate support mechanisms, specialized teaching resources and inclusive policies are essential to achieving universal basic education goals.
The establishment of the department is therefore expected to provide a structured framework for addressing the unique challenges faced by pupils and students with disabilities while ensuring their full participation in the educational system.
The development further reflects the Kogi State Government’s commitment to creating a more inclusive society where no child is denied access to quality education on account of disability or special learning needs.
