Umar Bago, Governor of Niger State, has launched a N1 billion endowment fund aimed at building facilities for children with special needs across all 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

Bago made the announcement at the flag-off of the RISE project, a collaborative initiative between the state government and donor partners, designed to integrate children with special needs into mainstream education.

The governor acknowledged the substantial financial commitment required for special needs education and reassured the public of his administration’s commitment to the project’s swift implementation through the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB).

In addition to the endowment fund, Bago donated N50 million to the Farid Foundation and N25 million to each of the four pilot schools chosen for the RISE project. He also approved the creation of a dedicated board under the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to oversee special needs education and introduced scholarships and mentorship programs at Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna, for students pursuing careers in special education.

Bago commended Aminat Jummai Gimba, CEO and co-founder of the Farid Centre, for her advocacy for children with special needs and reaffirmed his administration’s focus on inclusive education.

During the event, Gimba described the RISE project as a groundbreaking initiative aimed at integrating children with special needs into inclusive learning environments, starting with pilot programs in Bosso and Chanchaga LGAs. She highlighted the project’s goal to establish a sustainable framework for inclusive education, which aligns with the governor’s vision for broader access to quality education.

Hadiza Mohammed, Commissioner for Basic Education, stressed the importance of integrating special needs children into regular classrooms to promote social skills, empathy, and challenge societal misconceptions about disabilities.

Muhammad Baba, Executive Chairman of NSUBEB, announced the ongoing implementation of an accelerated basic education curriculum aimed at ensuring educational access for all children in the state.

Representatives from the Etsu Nupe, Emir of Minna, and local government chairpersons lauded the Farid Centre for its dedication to addressing the educational needs of children with special needs.