ABUAD VC Renews Call for Inclusive Higher Education at Event Marking World Disability Day

The Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, has called for deliberate reforms to strengthen inclusion for persons with impairments across Nigeria’s higher education system.

She made the statement at the LAWSANAID Initiative Africa-wide virtual event held over the weekend to commemorate World Disability Day.

Prof. Olarinde noted that disability is often created by societal barriers rather than individual limitations.

“No one is without one impairment or another. What we call disability arises from systems and structures that fail to accommodate human differences. What truly disables individuals is a society that refuses to adapt,” she said.

The professor of law called for more reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape through agencies like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), identifying accessible infrastructure, inclusive pedagogy, and stronger policy enforcement as urgent priorities. She stressed the need for strict compliance with the 2018 Disability Act, noting that meaningful inclusion cannot be achieved without accountability.

In his remarks, the Special Assistant on Equal Opportunities to the Honourable Speaker, Mr. Kevin Ogbuire, disclosed that the National Assembly is moving to sanction builders who fail to incorporate accessibility features in public structures. He added that the Speaker is advocating the creation of reserved seats for persons with disabilities in state assemblies across the country.

Other panellists who contributed to the discussion included the National Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association–Young Lawyers Forum, Barr. Timothy Clement; the Secretary General of the United Nations Association of Mauritius, Hon. Justelle Genava; the Founder of Principle Legal Consult, Barr. Prada Uzodinma; and the Special Adviser to the President of Uganda on Youth Affairs, Hon. Daniel Obal. They collectively emphasised the need for improved political participation and educational access for persons with disabilities.

Speaking on behalf of the Founder of LAWSANAID Initiative, Ms. Onyinye Omenugha, the Project Manager, Mr. Frank Okike, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting law students with disabilities across Africa. “Through our SEED Agenda-Support, Engage, Empower, and Develop- we have pushed boundaries and opened doors that once seemed short. We are proud of our achievements from scholarships for law school candidates to mentorship and advocacy programmes all across Africa,” he added.

The event attracted participants from Nigeria and other African countries, underscoring the growing continental push for more inclusive policies and practices.