Investing in exceptional children BY TIJAH BOLTON AKPAN

“Caring for exceptional children requires tact, patience and extraordinary skills. The caregivers and teachers need to constantly update their skills to be in tune with best practices around the world.  They need to be trained from time to time. The kids also need special learning aids. And it takes time and extra resources to give quality attention to these kids, so government must channel more resources into this area of education”

Children are gifts from God. But it is also true that children differ in their giftedness and physical attributes (e.g. some learn faster, some are shorter, some are stronger). Normally, where these differences are not significant, it is easy for children to learn together in a general education setting.

But there are children whose physical or learning attributes are either far below or above the average child. Known as exceptional children, these kids with physical or sensory disabilities, learning difficulties, behaviour problems and those who are intellectually gifted or have special talents require a special programme of education and care.

The National Council for Exceptional Children (NCEC) was founded to help this category of children fulfill their potential in life. On the 6th of August, 2013, more than 2,000 special educators, child psychologists, social workers and other professionals gathered in Uyo for the 23rd Annual General Conference of the Council with the theme ‘The road map for special needs Education and Nigerian’s vision 20-20-20".

In a welcome address, the Council’s National President, Mrs. Florence Obi, said the conference is an annual forum for professionals and others involved in the care and training of exceptional children in Nigeria to take stock of their achievements and proffer possible solutions to the challenges encountered in the course of their work. She added that the decision to bring the Conference to Akwa Ibom State wasas a result of the uncommon transformation experienced in the state under the Godswill Akpabio administration, commending the state government’s achievement’s in the area of child rights and education.

In his remarks, the Chief Host and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Dr. Godswill Akpabio said the theme of the Conference was apt as it highlighted the relationship between national development and the care and educational of exceptional children. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe, Governor Akpabio said: “Every child has the right to education irrespective of their condition. It was borne out of government’s recognition of this need to promote inclusion that free and compulsory education was introduced from primary to secondary level in Akwa Ibom State”. He commended the Council for its advocacy efforts and called for diversification of academic curriculum to suit the needs of children with special needs.

Mrs. Atim Antai, Hon. Commissioner for Education, described the event as timely, noting that there is need to fully integrate children with special ability into the society. She restated the commitment of the Ministry to partner the Council, teachers, other professionals and families of exceptional children to meet the needs of such children.

Several resource persons and participants noted that children remain the hope of the future, and whether exceptional or average, they all need to be properly trained, provided for, and equipped them with necessary knowledge and skills to enable them contribute their full potential to the development of society. They also urged government at all levels to strengthen policies to promote educational inclusion and increase investment in the education of exceptional children. The Conference also shared current best practices in the care and educational of exceptional children and stressed the  fact that no society could achieve meaningful progress without paying attention to the rights of children and providing for those of them with special needs.

Mr. Zachariah Ukpong, a motivational speaker with special ability, spoke on the topic “Public perceptions about persons living with disabilities”. He identified culture and belief systems as key factors that influence public perception and discrimination against persons with disability. Ukpong, however, noted that government, religious bodies and philanthropists have made notable improvements in supporting persons with disability, but called on government to increase access to economic opportunities by establishing vocational skills centres in every local government area and by improving the design of buildings and other public infrastructure to accommodate the needs of persons with disability.  

Mrs. Nsikanabasi Ekah, a special education expert who teaches at one of the state’s  centres for special children, lauded the initiative of the Council and urged government at all levels to invest more in programmes that specifically target special children.

“Caring for exceptional children requires tact, patience and extraordinary skills. The caregivers and teachers need to constantly update their skills to be in tune with best practices around the world.

“They need to be trained from time to time. The kids also need special learning aids. And it takes time and extra resources to give quality attention to these kids, so government must channel more resources into this area of education” she said.

 

High point of the event was the presentation of awards of excellence to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the care and support of exceptional children, notable among them the wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor and Founder Family Life Enhancement (FLEI), Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio.  A citation read at the event, highlighted Mrs. Akpabio work in the promotion of children’s rights to include FLEI’s repatriation and rehabilitation of abandoned and traumatised children, advocacy for the enactment of the state’s Child Rights Protection Act in 2008, and economic empowerment for families of children with special needs.

FLEI also provides foster care for traumatised children through centres such as the Divine Children Centre that is run in partnership with the state Ministry of Women Affairs. Recognising the importance of professional care for children with special needs, the organisation regularly organises training for their caregivers. Last year, over 120 caregivers were trained. FLEI has also sponsored several children with physical and sensory disabilities for specialist treatment and surgery abroad. The Council commended Mrs. Akpabio for “her exceptional commitment to the welfare of children with special needs”.

The event was also graced by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Glory Edet, who received the award on behalf of the governor’s wife, Engr. Samuel Inyang, who was also presented with an award, and Mr. Chrisantus Asuka, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, among other dignitaries.