The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, in collaboration with the Deafblind Inclusion and Advocacy Network, DIAN, has convened Nigeria’s first Policy Roundtable on Citizens with Deafblindness to take stock and chart new pathways for inclusion.
The event held in Ikeja, to mark International Deafblind Awareness Week 2026, themed “Leaving No One Behind: Enhancing Health, Education and Rehabilitation Training for Nigerians with Deafblindness” was also to assess progress and agree on practical steps to improve inclusion.
The roundtable brought together government officials, disability advocates, health experts, educators and members of the deafblind community.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Tolani Ali-Balogun, reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, with a special focus on learners with deafblindness saying said the government is moving “beyond integration to true inclusion.”
Ali-Balogun who was represented by Azeez Aliu, Inclusive Education Desk Officer in the Ministry, commended the DeafBlind Inclusion and Advocacy Network, DIAN, for championing the rights of one of society’s most marginalized yet resilient groups.
The theme, “Leaving No Child Behind: Enhancing Health, Education and Rehabilitation Training for Nigerians with DeafBlind” is not just apt, it is a moral imperative,” he said.
According to the Commissioner “It resonates deeply with this administration’s mandate to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for every child, regardless of ability, circumstance, or location.”
The Commissioner noted that deafblindness presents unique challenges that require specialized interventions.
“A child who cannot fully see or hear does not lack intelligence or potential. What they lack is access to early identification, tactile learning, assistive technology, trained interveners, and a system that understands their communication needs,” he said.
Highlighting state efforts, the Commissioner said Lagos has 35 inclusive primary schools, 5 special schools, and 17 inclusive junior and senior secondary schools spread across the state.
He said the Ministry is investing in curriculum adaptation, provision of braille, tactile sign language, intervenors, teacher aides, and continuous capacity building for teachers.
“In health, leaving no child behind means strengthening early screening, diagnosis and intervention at our primary health centers and school health programs so that deafblindness is identified early and supported,” he added.
He said in education, the focus is on equipping learners with deafblindness with life skills, orientation and mobility, vocational skills and digital literacy “that guarantees dignity, independence and productivity.”
The Commissioner commended Lagos for being a leading state in inclusive education in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, and urged for applause for the progress made so far.
He pledged that the Ministry would continue partnering with DIAN, development partners, parents and persons with lived experience to strengthen implementation of the National Policy on Inclusive Education.
He also appreciated parents, caregivers, intervenors, health workers, special educators and advocates, describing their work as “nation building.”
The General Manager of LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, who was represented by Director of Social Development and integration, Kelani Akeem, said people with deafblindness face unique challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and social services, and called for targeted policies to address the gaps.
She said at the event which had in attendance relevant stakeholders that the goal was also to ensure better access to healthcare, inclusive education, assistive technology and rehabilitation services and to truly improve quality of life for Nigerians with deafblindness.
“LASODA said the forum was designed to review progress made so far and identify concrete strategies to strengthen policies and interventions for people with deafblindness” She said.
The goal, according to organizers, is to improve quality of life through better access to healthcare, inclusive education, assistive technology and rehabilitation services.
Speaking at the event, Solomon Okelola, Founder and Executive Director of Lionheart Ability Leaders International Foundation, said DIAN which was unveiled on eight October 2024 was committed to advancing academic, health and social inclusion for the community.
“Our focus is on empowering persons with deafblindness toward self-actualisation, independence, and productive participation in society,” Okelola said.
‘”Nigeria’s 9th Disability Cluster, DIAN was launched on 8 October 2024 as Nigeria’s ninth disability cluster. The Network is made up of citizens with deafblindness and advocates working to advance their rights.
Participants called for specialized training for teachers and health workers on how to support persons with deafblindness, Increased funding for assistive devices and rehabilitation services, better data collection to inform policy, planning and stronger collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector to ensure no one is left behind.
LASODA and DIAN said resolutions from the roundtable would be submitted to relevant government agencies to guide the development of inclusive policies and programmes for the deafblind community nationwide.
