By Agbo Christian Obiora
Stakeholders have once again raised the alarm over the glaring gap in Nigeria’s education system—particularly as it affects persons with disabilities—and are calling for urgent investment in digital learning resources and enabling tools. The call was made during the November edition of EdTech Mondays, a virtual roundtable convened under an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Co-Creation Hub (CcHub).
Themed “EdTech as an Enabler of Education for Learners with Disabilities”, the forum gathered top voices in the disability advocacy and education technology spaces. The panel of experts included Olajidefunso Benjamin, Founder and Executive Director of Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI); Amaka Ogwu, Head of Programme at the Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC); and Oluwatomisin Kolawole, a biomedical engineer with a strong passion for inclusive learning through innovation.
A National Educational Crisis for Learners With Disabilities
With an estimated 32 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria—a significant percentage of whom are children—the discussion spotlighted what has become a deeply concerning trend. According to data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), over 95.5% of children with disabilities are out of school due to a combination of barriers, including physical inaccessibility, societal stigma, and a lack of inclusive learning tools.
“The state of education for persons with disabilities in Nigeria is nothing short of deplorable,” said Olajidefunso Benjamin. “While developed nations have moved towards inclusive education models that integrate persons with disabilities into mainstream schools, Nigeria still lags behind, relying heavily on underfunded special education frameworks.”
Benjamin emphasized that the future of inclusive education lies in the localization and affordability of assistive technologies. He called on stakeholders to collaborate in designing less expensive teaching aids, adapting software and applications to local needs, and training educators on the pivotal role of EdTech in promoting learning for all.
The Policy Vacuum and the Role of Government
One of the loudest messages from the forum was the need for government action. Benjamin and his fellow panelists decried the lack of policies supporting EdTech adoption for persons with disabilities. He challenged policymakers to urgently review and update Nigeria’s National Education Policy to embrace inclusive learning supported by modern technology.
“Our children are being left behind, not because they lack intelligence or capacity, but because the system isn’t designed to include them,” he said. “We must invest in digital learning resources, local content, and infrastructure tailored to their unique needs.”
Bridging the Capacity Gap
Oluwatomisin Kolawole brought a technology-centered perspective, stressing that while access to devices and digital tools is essential, capacity-building for both teachers and learners is just as critical. “We cannot hand over digital resources to educators and expect magic if they have not been trained on how to use them effectively,” he said. “Building digital literacy is a key part of the solution.”
He also noted that when learners are exposed to interactive, accessible EdTech platforms, their learning experiences improve significantly, boosting confidence and performance.
Tackling Misconceptions and Building Understanding
Amaka Ogwu focused on the social barriers affecting learners with disabilities. She identified misconceptions about cognitive abilities and inadequate learning environments as root causes of exclusion and dropout. According to her, the issue is not merely about availability of tools, but also about developing empathy and understanding among educators, caregivers, and policymakers.
“We must design tools and learning environments that reflect the lived realities of disabled learners,” she said. “Only then can we create a truly inclusive education system.”
A Call to Action: Public and Private Sector Collaboration
All three panelists agreed that meaningful change requires collaboration. They urged the public and private sectors to partner in the co-creation of accessible EdTech solutions, funding of digital inclusion projects, and development of community-based interventions that target marginalized learners.
They further encouraged innovation hubs, start-ups, development agencies, and government bodies to step up investment in inclusive education technology, highlighting the fact that inclusion benefits not just persons with disabilities, but the entire education ecosystem.
Conclusion: A Future Built on Inclusion
The EdTech Mondays forum served as a critical reminder that inclusive education is not a favor—it is a fundamental right. As Nigeria continues to push for universal basic education, the inclusion of persons with disabilities must become a non-negotiable priority.
As Benjamin rightly put it, “God has given everyone the capacity to learn. It is our responsibility as a society to provide the tools and environment that make that learning possible for everyone—regardless of ability.”
The time to act is now.
