The Founder of the Albino Foundation, Mr. Jake Epelle has called for the delivery of inclusive education to accommodate people with albinism and other forms of disabilities.
Mr. Jake Epelle, who made the call when he featured on News Agency of Nigeria’s Forum Flagship Platform, explained that it is important that every person with a disability have access to quality education.
He added that inclusive education is the only way where most vulnerable people could be educated, saying that as a permanent member of the National Council on Education, he would do all he could to make people in authority buy into the idea.
Epelle said that “by the time we all accept inclusive education, it would dismantle the so-called Special Education designed for a particular set of people.
“I am not a fan of special schools at all because it is contrary to the principle of inclusive education; inclusive education, you know, prepares the ground for everybody to participate in a safe and same environment.
Mr. Epelle further called on other African countries to emulate the Nigerian system of managing albinism.
He stated that he had also expanded the scope of management of Albinism by pushing for proper recognition and awareness worldwide at the UN, “and the International Albinism Day is now slated for June 13.
“So I sit on the UN Commission Committee called Action on Albinism. I am a UN ambassador for albinism.
“I am part of the African Union action plan for albinism, and one of the things that I started proposing from 2007 is for the African Union to appoint an envoy for albinism.
“Today, we have an envoy on persons with albinism, and of course, we still have independent experts on albinism, so the little effort we’re making here in Nigeria, we are also making it at the regional, national, and international front.
“I am pushing as the Chairman of the African Disability Protocol for Disability for Nigeria to ratify the protocol on disability,’’ Epelle said.
Source: NAN