In Nigeria when people have children with disabilities they don’t think of that child as a blessing rather they question God and question His blessing. This is because they are little to no facilities for people with disabilities. Later on, in the child’s life they grow up with a stigma that will make him/her feel inferior in the world and this creates mental health issues even when they are already dealing with enough trauma.

Sadly, when writing WAEC exams there are little to no special provision for people with serious disabilities such as Cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, Dystonia, Ataxia, Myoclonus, Multiple system atrophy and so much more.

In Nigeria, students with special needs are not taken seriously. They do not have laws that serve their needs and consequently, they are not given a platform for equal opportunities in other to compete successfully with their peers.

These Disabilities makes them slow in writing due to their irregular muscles and this also affects their speech and comprehension levels. taking all this to account, individuals with any of these disabilities are most likely to fail their WAEC exams because he or she might not meet up with the given time unlike other students.

Due to their disabilities, the effort made preparing for such an exam would be double if not triple and it would be devastating to such an individual being unable to finish successfully after all the effort made preparing for the exams. That devastation leads to depression, anxiety and in worst cases suicide.

In Nigeria about 1000+ individuals yearly is said to be born with a disability. I dream about a Nigeria where anyone with a disability is given equal opportunities to compete with their mates effectively and rise above their conditions. 

I am pleading to the minister of education in Nigeria; Mallam Adamu Adamu to please make a difference by acknowledging the truth of the dilemma of special needs individuals and also consider an extension in the time given to individuals with special needs who could become future leaders of Nigeria. This will definitely make a significant change in the lives of these individuals with special needs and also change the lives of future Nigerian generations come.with this time extension they will have the opportunity to secure good jobs, create a better society and impact the world greatly.

I hope that from next year 2021, by the grace of God, students with special needs will be able to write their exams feeling confident and comfortable knowing that the government has placed a new law that aids and gives them all the support they need. In conclusion, I hope and I pray that this petition creates awareness as intended and I look forward to a brighter tomorrow for individual with special needs.