A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Working Committee (NWC) and National leader of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Hon. Tolu Bankole, has commended the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA) for its groundbreaking decision to grant a 75% reduction in fees and charges to students with disabilities.
Spark News Naija reports that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, announced the policy, which also includes free e-learning resources for students with disabilities.
Reacting to the gesture, Hon. Bankole, in a statement on Sunday described FULAFIA’s decision as a “shining example of institutional foresight and empathy” that sets a new national standard for inclusive education.
The APC chieftain emphasized that the policy demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in pursuing education and is a genuine compliance with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
He urged the Federal Government to adopt FULAFIA’s policy as a national template and work with the National Assembly to codify it into law.
The National leader of PWDs also called on state governments to domesticate similar policies, ensuring equal access to quality education for persons with disabilities.
Hon. Bankole suggested that the Federal and State Governments, in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, establish functional offices across the country to enhance coordination and monitoring of students benefiting from inclusive education policies.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he urged him to make the adoption of this educational inclusion policy a national priority.
“By supporting this policy, the President will strengthen his legacy of fairness, justice, and genuine inclusivity for millions of Nigerians living with disabilities”, Hon. Bankole concluded.