Reps Speaker Abbas Prepares To Officially Launch ARCEAHED

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, is billed to inaugurate the inaugural Africa Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education (ARCEAHED) on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in Abuja.

Ireporteronline understands that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, will act as the Special Guest of Honour, while the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, will provide remarks during the event, which will be held at the Idris Abdulkadir Hall, National Universities Commission, Maitama.

As reported by Jambulletin, the keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Ali Tijjani Abdullahi, President of the National Association for Exceptional Children at Bayero University, Kano.

Furthermore, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Chairman of the Organising Committee, will present the welcome address.

Also, the Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Prof. Peter Okebukola, and Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, Registrar and Chief Host of the event, will make significant remarks.

Goodwill messages will be conveyed by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities; Prof. Olusola Oyewole, Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities (Accra) (virtually); Prof. Juma Shabani, Chairman of the Burundi National Commission for Higher Education (virtually); the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission; the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education; and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education.

“Representatives from at least eight African countries are expected to participate in the conference, including Malawi, Burundi, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt, with Nigeria serving as the host nation.

“This two-day conference aims to provide a robust platform for examining the challenges faced by persons living with disabilities, proposing viable solutions, and charting a practical course for improving the circumstances of these individuals.

“In conclusion, the ARCEAHED conference seeks to foster collaboration among stakeholders in higher education, promote inclusivity, and ensure that equal opportunities are accessible to all, particularly those with disabilities.

“We look forward to productive discussions and actionable outcomes that will contribute to the advancement of higher education in Africa,” the Jambulletin noted.