The Nigerian government, in collaboration with IOM, this week partnered with members of the Nigerian diaspora to organize a workshop on special needs education.

The five-day training in Abuja, which ends today (14/8), was attended by 20 public school teachers, administrators and regulators of the education sector. It provided an overview on special needs, signs that a learner has special needs, and ways to foster learning for all students, including those with special needs. The training was part of a European Union (EU)-funded IOM project: “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria”.

The training was facilitated by Mr. Adeyombo Aderinto and Dr. Agodi Alagbe – two members of the Nigerian diaspora, each with over 20 years of experience as educators in the United States. Dr. Alagbe, who returned to Nigeria from the US, has established a school in Abuja, the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), which hosted the workshop. Mr Aderinto, who is still based in the US, saw the workshop as an opportunity for him to contribute to the development of the country where he grew up.

“This workshop on special education needs is a great gain to the Nigerian education sector. It provides an opportunity for sharing experiences and learning best practices in an important aspect of education. The Ministry of Education is committed to working with the country’s diaspora for development in education,” said Dr. JC Ndefo, Deputy Director, National and International Education, representing the Permanent Secretary for the Federal Ministry of Education.

In 2014, IOM carried out a needs assessment of Nigeria’s education and health sectors, which identified a gap in the capacity to teach children with special needs. A diaspora mapping exercise in three major countries of destination: South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States also indicated that Nigeria’s diaspora includes a large number of experts in education and health.

Building on the recommendation of the assessment, the Nigeria National Volunteer Service (NNVS), in collaboration with IOM, and with funding from the EU, designed a flexible programme to provide stipends for education and health professionals, like Mr. Aderinto, who are willing to return to Nigeria on a short-term basis.

The workshop illustrates the role that a country’s diaspora can play in national development. Diaspora remittances are already recognized as a key contributor to the Nigerian economy. In 2014 they amounted to USD 21 billion, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the World Bank. But the diaspora can also make major contributions to a country’s development in the form of skills and knowledge.

“This workshop today was made possible because of two Nigerians from the diaspora who are willing to use their skills and expertise to contribute to developing human capital. They are making a difference and significantly contributing to the country’s development in a unique way,” said IOM Nigeria Officer-in Charge Lily Sanya.

For further information, please contact Lily Sanya at IOM Nigeria, Tel: +234 705 400 6107, Email: lsanya@iom.int. For more information on the project, visit www.pbmmNigeria.com. You can also follow @IOM_Nigeria (hashtag #pbmmNigeria) and like our page on Facebook (IOM Nigeria) for regular updates.