The Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) held its 2nd Distinguished Lecture Series at the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Multipurpose Hall, Main Campus, Oto/Ijanikin, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, reinforcing its leadership in inclusive education and advocacy for persons with special needs.
Themed “Inclusive Teacher Preparation for People with Special Needs,” the event, an insightful discourse was led by guest speaker, Professor Emeka Desmond Ozorji. The distinguished professor passionately examined the urgent need to integrate special needs education content into mainstream teacher training curricula in Nigeria.
In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of LASUED, Professor Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, welcomed attendees and highlighted the growing significance of the Distinguished Lecture Series as a cornerstone for intellectual discourse within the university. She emphasized that the chosen theme aligns with both the university’s core mandate and global educational priorities, particularly those enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 4 and Nigeria’s National Policy on Education (2013).
“We have moved beyond rhetoric to practice,” she declared. “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.”
Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye spotlighted the work of the College of Specialised and Professional Education (COSPED), one of LASUED’s seven core colleges, as a driver of the institution’s inclusive agenda. She affirmed that LASUED trains its teachers not only in pedagogy but in empathy, awareness, and a deep understanding of the full spectrum of special needs, including autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia.
Beyond academic initiatives, the Vice-Chancellor affirmed LASUED’s institutional culture of non-discrimination, proudly noting that both staff and students with disabilities are not just welcomed, but thrive and contribute significantly within the university community. “This inclusivity is not just policy—it is practice,” she emphasized.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Ozorji expanded on the necessity for mainstream teacher training programmes to embed disability awareness, content differentiation, and inclusive methodology. He proposed the establishment of a Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) at LASUED as a sustainable structure to champion these efforts long-term.
According to him, the CDS would serve as the university’s nerve center for inclusive education—mobilizing student engagement, fostering social action, removing barriers, and promoting attitudinal change towards persons with disabilities. He proposed that the Centre run dedicated programmes and be empowered to lead innovation, training, and research in special needs education.
Professor Ozorji urged LASUED to adopt a “zero-rejection policy” for students and staff with disabilities, thereby setting the standard for true institutional inclusiveness across Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
Participants left the lecture energized and inspired, recognizing LASUED’s forward-thinking approach as a model for inclusive teacher preparation across Africa. The event not only deepened awareness but served as a clarion call to action for stakeholders across the education sector.
With its sustained commitment, bold vision, and concrete strategies, the Lagos State University of Education continues to lead the charge in transforming Nigeria’s education system into one that leaves no learner behind.
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