Children’s Day inclusion reform Nigeria gains attention as Adesola calls for better support for left-handed and neurodivergent children

Anti-bullying advocate and convener of the Lefties and Ambidextrous Care Initiative Nigeria, Yeye Adesola Oyinloye-Ndu, has called for urgent educational and societal reforms to ensure inclusion for left-handed and neurodivergent children in Nigeria during the commemoration of Children’s Day 2026.

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Speaking on the national theme, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” she urged parents, educators and policymakers to stop forcing children to conform to rigid standards and instead build systems that allow every child to thrive naturally.

The advocate focused on the daily challenges faced by left-handed children, including classroom tools and learning environments largely designed for right-handed users, which she said often lead to emotional strain and loss of confidence.

She described such experiences as a silent form of exclusion that can undermine a child’s identity from an early age, stressing that inclusion must go beyond surface-level tolerance.

According to global estimates cited in her address, around 10 to 12 percent of the population is left-handed, a figure that translates to millions of Nigerian children navigating systems not designed for them.

Beyond handedness, she expanded her call to include neurodivergent children, urging greater awareness of different learning styles and cognitive patterns in classrooms across the country.

The inclusion reform message also emphasised the need for teachers and parents to recognise individuality, creativity and diverse ways of learning as strengths rather than weaknesses.

She warned that persistent labelling or correction of natural differences can negatively affect children’s emotional development and long-term confidence.

“Inclusion is not charity. Inclusion is justice,” she stated, underscoring her argument that acceptance should be a fundamental right rather than an optional gesture.

The Lefties and Ambidextrous Care Initiative Nigeria, founded and convened by Oyinloye-Ndu, continues to advocate for awareness and structural support for left-handed and ambidextrous individuals, particularly children in schools and homes.

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The organisation says it remains committed to promoting dignity, equality and better learning environments for all children regardless of how they are naturally wired.