The Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has announced a ₦100,000 reduction in tuition fees for students with disabilities.
Additionally, the university has approved a ₦50,000 monthly allowance for staff members living with disabilities.
These initiatives were revealed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, during an event organized by the university’s Disability Support Office and the Department of Special Education to mark the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
Prof. Jimoh emphasized that the measures aim to foster inclusivity, as the university believes in equal participation for everyone, regardless of ability.
“Our gathering here is not just a ceremony but a reminder of our collective responsibility to uphold the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,” he said.
Highlighting the institution’s commitment to inclusivity, Prof. Jimoh outlined several policies, including:
A ₦100,000 tuition waiver for students with disabilities.
A ₦50,000 monthly allowance for staff with disabilities.
Increased employment opportunities for sign language interpreters.
Representation of students with disabilities in the student union.
Establishment of a dedicated Disability Support Office.
The vice-chancellor added that KWASU is continually exploring ways to improve campus accessibility and ensure full participation of staff and students with disabilities in all aspects of university life.
The event’s convener, Prof. Olubukola Dada, who serves as the Coordinator of the Disability Support Office and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), highlighted the importance of this year’s IDPD theme, which calls for collective efforts to build an inclusive society. She stressed the need for collaboration with persons living with disabilities to create equitable policies.
Guest speaker Prof. Julius Ademokoya, from the University of Ibadan, reinforced the importance of integrating persons with disabilities (PWDs) into all areas of society, including cultural, political, and economic spheres.
He noted that UN data shows one in six individuals in developing countries like Nigeria has significant disabilities.
Ademokoya urged stakeholders, including the government and academia, to devise innovative strategies to eliminate barriers hindering PWDs’ inclusion in Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.
