By Ezekiel Dontinna
The Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) solidified its position as a leader in inclusive teacher education by hosting its 2nd Distinguished Lecture Series on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The event, held at the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Multipurpose Hall on the Main Campus, Oto/Ijanikin, had the theme “Inclusive Teacher Preparation for People with Special Needs.”
This was contained in a press release issued by the Public Relations Officer of the University, and made available to the media.
It further stated that the insightful discourse was spearheaded by Guest Speaker, Professor Emeka Desmond Ozorji, who passionately advocated for the urgent integration of special needs education into mainstream teacher training curricula across Nigeria.
His address underscored the necessity of equipping all educators with the skills and understanding to effectively teach students with diverse learning needs.
In her opening remarks, LASUED Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, emphasized the growing importance of the Distinguished Lecture Series as a platform for crucial intellectual discussions within the university.
She highlighted that the chosen theme directly aligns with LASUED’s core mission and global educational priorities, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 and Nigeria’s National Policy on Education (2013).
Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye proudly stated, “We have moved beyond rhetoric to practice. At LASUED, we embrace strategies like Differentiated Instruction and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), drawn from global best practices to ensure inclusive classrooms are not just ideals but realities.”
She further spotlighted the pivotal role of LASUED’s College of Specialised and Professional Education (COSPED) in driving the institution’s inclusive agenda.
The Vice-Chancellor affirmed that LASUED is committed to training teachers not only in pedagogy but also in empathy, awareness, and a comprehensive understanding of various special needs, including autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia.
Beyond academic initiatives, Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye emphasized LASUED’s deeply ingrained culture of non-discrimination, highlighting the significant contributions of both staff and students with disabilities within the university community.
“This inclusivity is not just policy-it is practice,” she asserted.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Ozorji elaborated on the crucial need to embed disability awareness, content differentiation, and inclusive methodologies within mainstream teacher training programmes.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of these efforts, he proposed the establishment of a dedicated Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) at LASUED.
Professor Ozorji envisioned the CDS as the university’s central hub for inclusive education, driving student engagement, fostering social action, dismantling barriers, and promoting positive attitudinal shifts towards persons with disabilities.
He suggested that the Centre should run specialized programmes and be empowered to lead innovation, training, and research in special needs education.
In a call to action, Professor Ozorji urged LASUED to adopt a “zero-rejection policy” for students and staff with disabilities, setting a benchmark for genuine institutional inclusiveness across Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Attendees left the lecture feeling inspired and recognizing LASUED’s progressive approach as a potential model for inclusive teacher preparation throughout Africa.
The event not only raised crucial awareness but also served as a significant call to action for all stakeholders within the education ecosystem.
Through its unwavering commitment, ambitious vision, and concrete strategies, the Lagos State University of Education continues to spearhead the transformation of Nigeria’s education system into one that truly leaves no learner behind.
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