Lagos Academy Calls For Special Youth, Adult Empowerment

The Learning Innovation Academy (TLIA), Lekki, Lagos State has requested the empowerment of youths and adults who require special needs and attention.

The Executive Director of the academy, Bolanle Adewole, said it was time to empower people with special needs rather than assist them.

“There is a lot of inclusion already going on. We are moving away from advocacy to empowerment. We already know the signs, we need to empower them to be gainfully employed,” Adewole expressed.

Adewole further said the academy was the result of the cooperation of The Learning Place Centre, Sustainability School Lagos, Pan Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development, and Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art.

She said the academy was initiated to encourage the need for occupational learning after secondary education for people with special needs.

“It proposes to be an institute of creativity in the arts, science, and technology, for talented youth living with special needs.

“The Academy will affiliate and cooperate with other innovation hubs worldwide, including the public, private sectors and development agencies.

"It will provide a safe, open and creative space where youth can hone in on their skills and learn how to lead a productive life with their different abilities,” she explained.

Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Governor of Lagos State, lauded the centre of the academy, noting that it would work with other initiatives to assist the younger generations in using their skills, thereby benefitting Nigeria and the African continent.

“It is instructive and commendable that the focus of the Centre is to serve as an institute of creativity in the arts, science and technology for talented youth living with special needs.

“Without sounding immodest, there is no question about the fact that Africa and Nigeria, in particular, are blessed with a bunch of talented youth who are ready to positively unleash their skills to address the myriads of challenges confronting us as a people,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu said.

The Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Folashade Adefisayo, expressed her excitement at the initiative, promising that the Lagos State Government would support it.

 “I am excited, we will add more to the 31 inclusive primary schools in Lagos.

“The government of Sanwo-Olu is supportive, that is why we have physically impaired teachers in our schools too,” she said.