The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive education with the commencement of a three-day Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Inclusive Mathematics Education for Learners with Visual Impairment, aimed at equipping teachers with the skills and resources needed to make mathematics more accessible to blind and visually impaired learners.
The workshop, organised by the Resource Center for the Blind, a project of the Jubril Aiyinla Foundation, in partnership with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), brought together educators, disability inclusion advocates and stakeholders committed to advancing quality education for persons with disabilities.
Chairing the opening ceremony, the General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, described inclusive education as a vital foundation for building a society where every child, irrespective of disability, enjoys equal opportunities to learn, grow and achieve their full potential.
In her keynote goodwill message, Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal applauded the organisers for their dedication to strengthening inclusive education in Nigeria through innovative teacher training programmes. She noted that empowering educators with the right knowledge, practical skills and accessible teaching techniques remains one of the most effective ways of improving educational outcomes for learners with visual impairment.
She stressed that teachers occupy a strategic position in shaping the future of children with disabilities and must therefore be equipped with modern instructional approaches that eliminate learning barriers rather than reinforce them.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, the LASODA General Manager acknowledged that mathematics has traditionally been viewed as one of the most difficult subjects for learners with visual impairment due to its reliance on visual concepts, diagrams and symbols. However, she maintained that these challenges can be overcome through adaptive teaching methods, assistive technologies, tactile learning materials and continuous professional development for educators.
According to her, when teachers are adequately trained and supported with inclusive teaching resources, learners with visual impairment can perform exceptionally well in mathematics and other science-related subjects, thereby expanding their opportunities in higher education and future careers.
Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal encouraged participants to actively engage in every session of the workshop, emphasizing that the knowledge gained should be translated into practical classroom experiences that enhance learning and boost students’ confidence.
“Inclusive education is not merely a policy aspiration; it is a fundamental right. Every child deserves access to quality education without discrimination or barriers. Workshops like this provide teachers with the tools to make that vision a reality,” she noted.
She further reaffirmed LASODA’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with organisations, development partners and disability-focused institutions whose programmes align with the agency’s mandate of promoting the rights, inclusion, accessibility and empowerment of persons with disabilities across Lagos State.
The three-day workshop features expert-led presentations, practical demonstrations and interactive training sessions focused on accessible mathematics instruction, inclusive classroom strategies, assistive technologies and the effective use of specialized learning materials for students with visual impairment.
Participants are expected to return to their respective schools and institutions as trainers, cascading the knowledge acquired to other educators and helping to strengthen inclusive teaching practices across the education sector.
Education experts have long argued that improving access to quality mathematics education for learners with visual impairment is essential to increasing their participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Initiatives such as this workshop are therefore seen as critical steps toward breaking long-standing educational barriers and ensuring that disability does not limit academic achievement or career aspirations.
As the training continues over the coming days, stakeholders expressed optimism that the programme will contribute significantly to building a more inclusive educational system where every learner, regardless of visual ability, has the opportunity to succeed.
The initiative also reinforces the growing recognition that achieving inclusive education requires sustained partnerships between government agencies, civil society organisations, educators and the disability community. Through such collaborations, Nigeria can move closer to fulfilling its commitment to equitable and accessible education for all.
The workshop will conclude with participants developing practical action plans for implementing inclusive mathematics teaching strategies in their various schools, ensuring that the impact of the training extends far beyond the classroom sessions and contributes to lasting educational transformation for learners with visual impairment.
