Experts call for more awareness, care for children with dyslexia

Hon. Prince Godwin Ejinyere, the Director-General of Warri, Uwvie, and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA), has emphasized the necessity of group efforts to raise awareness for people to give proper care for children with dyslexia.

At the 2023 Dyslexia Stakeholders Conference and Awareness Campaign program/presentation of patron awards in Asaba, Ejinyere made the call. The event was organized by Dyslexia Initiative Project Africa (DIPA) in partnership with the Delta State Government.

As he accepted the organization’s grand patron award, Ejinyere complimented the program’s organizers and promised to contribute his meager resources and support to the endeavour.

Earlier in her welcome speech, Enddy Sunny-Udjor, the founder of Dyslexia Initiative Project Africa, stated that dyslexia was a common challenge faced by most people who struggled to learn in schools. She also explained that the main goal of the stakeholders’ awareness campaign was to brainstorm on the difficulties that children with dyslexia face in order to share solutions.

According to her, there was a misconception in Africa that dyslexia was a sign of a child’s lack of seriousness or spirituality. She emphasized that this belief was unfounded and that dyslexia could not be outgrown.

Enddy Sunny-Udjor praised the State Government for its early support of the Dyslexia Initiative Project Africa (DIPA), noting that DIPA started the road of raising awareness of dyslexia by promoting inclusive and accommodating learning policies for people with learning difficulties.

Dr. C. O. Onwubolu, Dean of the School of Education at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Asaba, and Dr. Opene Rita, State Coordinator of the Non-Communicable Disease Program at the Delta State Ministry of Health, emphasized in their lecture presentations the need for special educators to be dyslexia-skilled in order to effectively teach dyslexic children. They also emphasized the significance of showing them love while they are teaching.

Speaking at the workshop, participants emphasized the need for the Delta State Government to keep supporting the program and urged greater awareness-raising to ensure that people are properly informed about dyslexia.