For 14-year-old Amina in Kano, Nigeria, the journey to school is a daily battle. Living with a mobility impairment, Amina struggles to navigate flooded roads and muddy paths during Nigeria’s intensifying rainy season. Her experience highlights a growing issue in Nigeria: how climate change exacerbates challenges for children with disabilities, particularly in a strained educational system lacking adequate infrastructure.
Nigeria faces increasingly extreme weather events, including severe floods and droughts, due to shifting climate patterns. According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), rainfall variability has surged by 15% over the past two decades, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. For disabled students, these climate impacts compound already limited access to education, with many schools lacking ramps, accessible toilets, or reinforced pathways. A 2022 UNICEF report revealed that over 60% of northern schools lack basic facilities, forcing students like Amina to stay home when heavy rains hit.
Despite policies like the National Policy on Inclusive Education, Nigeria’s educational framework falls short of addressing climate impacts on disabled students. Emergency response plans and infrastructure projects often neglect the specific needs of these students, leaving them at a disadvantage during extreme weather events. Advocates, such as Dr. Fola Ajayi from the Nigerian Disability Rights Commission, stress the need for an integrated approach that links climate resilience, education, and disability inclusion to tackle these interconnected challenges effectively.
Funding remains a significant hurdle. Although Nigeria allocated 7.5% of its 2024 budget to education, only a small portion targets special needs or climate-resilient infrastructure. Economic challenges, including inflation rates of 32.7%, further constrain resources. Without increased investment in adaptive infrastructure and accessible transportation, students in flood-prone areas face continued disruption and inequality in education.
Examples from Kenya and South Africa offer valuable lessons. Kenya’s adaptation plan incorporates climate-resilient, accessible schools, while South Africa emphasizes inclusive emergency response systems for people with disabilities. For Nigeria, adopting similar strategies, coupled with international funding opportunities, could transform its education system. Stories like Amina’s serve as a call to action for integrating inclusive policies with climate resilience, ensuring equitable access to education for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
