Gwa,Grace Kpeenbeen

Department of Early Childhood Care and Education,

College of Education Katsina-Ala, Benue State.

E- mail: gwagrace2018@gmail.com

Phone No.: 08124322502

AND

Gbera, Godwin Aondoawase

Department of Early Childhood Care and Education,

College of Education Katsina-Ala, Benue State.

E- mail: gberaag@gmail.com

Phone No.: 08038865915

Abstract

This article has examined inclusive education as an antidote to special educational challenges of Nigerian children. It anchors on the need to appreciate, include and integrate children with special needs into the regular system of education. It also posits that special needs children are part of the society and deserves the dignity and respect accorded to all other members of the society. Drawing on content analysis, the paper explores concepts of inclusive education, special educational needs, categories of special needs, key features of inclusive education, identification of special needs, efforts at providing inclusive in Nigeria, benefits of inclusive as well as constraints of inclusive education in Nigeria. The paper concludes that inclusive education is a philosophy and practice for educating students with special needs in a regular school setting alongside their other counterparts and every child should be an equally valued member of the society. It recommends among others that various stake holders in education should provide financial and human resources to actualize what it truly means to bring children and youths with special needs within the milieu of general education.

Keywords:Inclusive education, Special needs, Children, Antidote and Stakeholders.