By Atoyebi Nike
Parents of children living with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have decried the widespread stigmatisation they face and called on the Kwara State Government to establish special schools to meet their children’s educational and developmental needs.
They made the appeal in Ilorin during the 2025 World Cerebral Palsy Day organised by the Ifeoluwa Cerebral Palsy Initiative in collaboration with the Kwara State Government.
Mrs. Shukurat Afolabi, a parent, urged the government to establish a special school for CP “champions” since they cannot cope without assistance in the existing Kwara School for Special Needs. She suggested the provision of trained “shadow teachers” in regular schools as an immediate alternative.
“Most private schools do not admit them because they do not have shadow teachers trained to take care of them. If the government can pay for such teachers to teach them twice a week, it will help a lot,” she said, adding that free physiotherapy sessions and subsidised drugs would ease parents’ financial burden.
Another parent, Mrs. Oluwabusayo Olaoye, shared her personal struggles, revealing that she resigned from her banking job to care for her son. She appealed for financial support for parents and schools providing special care.
“The stigmatisation when walking on the road or in events is too much, as if it’s a contagious disease,” she said, urging parents to proudly support their children and society to show greater acceptance.
The Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam Imam, called for respect and inclusion for children living with cerebral palsy, describing them as resilient and full of potential.
“Cerebral palsy is not a limitation of the human spirit. It is a call for understanding, inclusion, and shared responsibility,” she said, adding that the government has enrolled some affected children in the state health insurance scheme and trained parents in income-generating skills to support their livelihoods.
Convener and CEO of Ifeoluwa Cerebral Palsy Initiative, Ifeoluwa Anishe, described the day as one of hope and unity and called for greater inclusion of adults living with CP in governance.
