By Milcah Tanimu
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, is set to officially inaugurate the first Africa Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education (ARCEAHED) on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in Abuja.
The event will take place at the Idris Abdulkadir Hall, National Universities Commission, Maitama, with the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, acting as the Special Guest of Honour, and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, providing remarks.
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Ali Tijjani Abdullahi of Bayero University, Kano, President of the National Association for Exceptional Children. Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Chairman of the Organising Committee, will deliver the welcome address, and notable figures like Prof. Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), and Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, JAMB Registrar, will make significant remarks.
Goodwill messages will be shared by officials such as the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and international representatives from the Association of African Universities and other organizations.
International Participation and Objectives
Representatives from eight African nations, including Malawi, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt, will participate in the conference, hosted by Nigeria. The two-day event aims to examine challenges faced by persons with disabilities and propose practical solutions to improve access to higher education.
ARCEAHED seeks to promote collaboration among stakeholders in African higher education and ensure inclusivity, making equal opportunities accessible to all, especially individuals with disabilities.