Empowerment
Children’s Day 2026: Yeye Adesola Advocates Stronger Inclusion for Left-Handed, Neurodivergent Children
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.
In a significant boost to youth empowerment and alternative energy transportation, the Federal Government has officially commissioned a new Automotive Training Centre in Gusau, Zamfara State. The facility has already commenced operations with an inaugural cohort of 100 youths trained in mechatronics a specialized field combining mechanical and electronic engineering specifically focused on the repair of both petrol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tricycles and motorcycles.
The project was executed through a strategic partnership between the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Zamfara State office of the Made in Nigeria Special Project. The initiative is designed to address two critical national challenges: rising youth unemployment and the need for a skilled workforce capable of maintaining the growing fleet of CNG-powered vehicles, which are being promoted as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol-only engines.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, hailed the centre as a transformative step forward. “This is not just about building a workshop; it is about building futures,” Governor Lawal stated. He emphasized that the centre aligns seamlessly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes job creation and economic diversification, while also reflecting his administration’s commitment to developing skilled manpower across the state. He noted that the focus on CNG technology is particularly timely, given the federal government’s push to lower transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidies.
Reinforcing the federal perspective, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, reaffirmed the government’s broader vision for the automotive sector. He highlighted that the Gusau centre is part of a nationwide strategy to expand Nigeria’s automotive industry through increased local production, the establishment of industrial hubs, and strategic partnerships with global investors. “We are moving from a culture of importing fully built vehicles to one where Nigerians design, assemble, and maintain our own transportation solutions,” Senator Enoh remarked. He added that mechatronics training is critical for the next generation of automotive engineers, who will be essential as the country transitions toward more sustainable fuel sources.
Local community leaders and representatives of the trained youths expressed optimism about the initiative. For many of the graduates, the certification offers a viable pathway out of economic hardship, enabling them to set up their own repair workshops or gain employment in the formal automotive sector. The NADDC has indicated that similar training centres are being planned for other states, with the aim of creating a national network of CNG-compatible repair and maintenance hubs.
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