By Folasade Akpan
The Albino Foundation (TAF) Africa and Glory City Campus Fellowship have collaborated to provide financial support for students with disabilities in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The organisations disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, at a media conference on inclusivity and educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
The organisations further called on the government at all levels to assist students with disabilities to fulfill their academic dreams.
The founder of the fellowship, Pastor Chuzzy Udenwa, said that the support for students with disabilities should include policies and programs that facilitate their education.
“The government plays a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape, and its involvement is essential in ensuring equal opportunities for all,” he said.
Udenwa also said that TAF Africa partnered the fellowship to empower students with disabilities through educational opportunities.
He said the collaboration aims to provide financial support by covering one-term school fees for deserving students with disabilities.
He said the effort marks a significant step towards a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape.
“The partnership between TAF Africa and Glory City Campus Fellowship is a testament to our unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of their physical or cognitive challenges, can receive a quality education.
“This initiative will empower individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential, fostering their personal growth and contribution to society, by removing the financial barriers that often hinder access to education,’ he said.
Udenwa explained that the financial support was targeted at deserving students irrespective of religion or gender.
He said the collaboration would expand to include other organisations interested in the disability community to ensure that the support reaches those who need it most.
“Together, these entities will identify and select indigent students with disabilities who will benefit from this partnership, ensuring that the assistance is directed at those who are most in need.
“This initiative seeks to address a crucial gap in our society, where many students with disabilities are often denied educational opportunities due to financial constraints.
“The partnership between TAF Africa and Glory City Campus Fellowship aims to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment that allows these students to thrive academically and personally,” he said.
Udenwa said that the initiative was a beacon of hope for students with disabilities who often face barriers that hinder their access to quality education.
He called on all stakeholders to join the cause, saying that barriers that have limited the educational opportunities of students with disabilities for too long could be broken.
He added that the time had come to create an inclusive, diverse and accessible educational environment where every student has a chance to excel.
Udenwa said that though the fellowship had been sponsoring students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions for about 10 years, it streamlined it to tertiary students alone in 2023 and has supported 15 students so far. (NAN)
Edited by Ijendu Iheaka/Julius Toba-Jegede