Helen Obiageli Oshikoya is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nobelova Gradani PsychoEducational Services. A member of the Nigerian Bar Association, she holds a Master’s degree in Social Science from the UK, encompassing child development, clinical and learning assessments, and other social science areas requiring mental health expertise. With extensive experience in children’s rights, she has been a leading advocate for campaigns involving the Rights of the Nigerian Child, including developmental screening at birth. She is a member of the Nigerian Psychological Association, British Psychological Society, American Psychological Association, and a Certified Autism Specialist. In this interview, she discusses her work, the special education sector, and how schools can promote inclusion.
Inspiration Behind Nobelova Gradani Psychoeducational Services
The inspiration came from witnessing children with neurodevelopmental differences being denied hope and opportunities simply because they were “different.” After being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991, I encountered cases where children with developmental challenges were overlooked or stigmatised, prompting a shift in my career path. I invested in high-level training in child development, mental health, and clinical and learning assessments in the UK, founding Nobelova Gradani (meaning “Noble Citizen”) to ensure every child receives quality, evidence-based care. Early intervention and developmental surveillance became central, as many Nigerian parents previously lacked access to proactive screening.
Experience So Far
The journey since starting our Developmental Surveillance and School Health Programme in September 2012 has been deeply rewarding yet challenging. We have screened thousands of children across dozens of schools and hospitals, trained professionals, and provided ABA early intervention and support to many families. Seeing children progress and parents gain hope makes it worthwhile. We have built partnerships, such as being an IBCCES Certified Training Partner, expanded services like teacher competency training and inclusion consultancy, and created awareness where little existed. Financial and systemic hurdles exist, but the impact on children’s lives keeps us going.
Role of School Psychologists in Special Education
School psychologists assess cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and academic functioning through psychoeducational evaluations. They identify learning disabilities, developmental delays, ADHD, and autism. In special education, they conduct assessments for eligibility and individualised education plans, provide counseling and behavioural interventions, consult with teachers and parents on classroom accommodations, promote mental health and inclusion, train staff, and advocate for children’s rights. They bridge psychology, education, and family support to help children thrive.
Major Challenges in Special Education
In Nigeria, key challenges include inadequate funding and resources, shortage of trained professionals such as psychologists, therapists, and special educators, poor infrastructure and lack of accessible facilities, societal stigma, cultural beliefs, and low awareness, weak policy implementation and enforcement, limited interdisciplinary collaboration and data-driven practices, and high teacher burnout with insufficient professional development. These factors result in delayed interventions and unequal access.
Encouraging Inclusion in Schools
Schools can adopt Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles by providing teacher training on differentiated instruction and disability awareness, developing clear inclusion policies with parental involvement, creating peer support programmes and anti-bullying initiatives, ensuring physical accessibility and reasonable accommodations, collaborating with specialists for co-teaching or pull-out support, and celebrating diversity through events and curricula that promote empathy. Inclusion benefits all students by fostering empathy and better social skills.
Misconceptions About Special Education
Common misconceptions include that special education is only for severe cases or intellectual disabilities, that it labels children and limits potential rather than enabling them, that children in special services are not smart or cannot succeed academically, that behavioural challenges are due to bad parenting or laziness, and that inclusion means lowering standards for everyone. In reality, with proper support, many children with disabilities excel and contribute uniquely.
Advice for Parents and Caregivers
Act early; do not wait. Seek a professional developmental screening or comprehensive assessment as soon as concerns arise, such as speech delays, social difficulties, or motor issues. Early intervention significantly improves outcomes. Find reputable providers, document observations, and partner with schools. Join support networks, educate yourself, and focus on strengths while addressing needs. A diagnosis is a roadmap, not a limitation. Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential.
Improving Special Education Services in Nigeria
Increase dedicated funding and enforce existing policies. Integrate mandatory special education training in teacher education programmes. Establish national standards for assessments and interventions. Promote public-private partnerships and awareness campaigns to reduce stigma. Invest in local research and culturally relevant tools. Scale up interdisciplinary services and technology, and hold schools accountable for inclusion metrics. Government, NGOs, schools, and communities must collaborate.
Gratitude and Support
I am deeply grateful to my family, particularly those who supported my pivot from law to this specialised field. Mentors in mental health and education, along with early collaborators and the team at Nobelova Gradani, have been instrumental. Many parents and children who have trusted us have also inspired and sustained me through their resilience.
Advice to School Owners and Teachers
Prioritise every child’s unique needs. Invest in ongoing training on neurodiversity and inclusion. Screen early, refer promptly, and collaborate with specialists. Create welcoming environments where differences are celebrated. Document progress and communicate openly with parents. Supporting one child with special needs often raises the quality of education for the entire class. Be patient, evidence-based, and compassionate; you shape futures.
Message to Women Facing Challenges
You are not behind, and you are not broken. Challenges can make us feel like we are the only ones struggling, but that is rarely the truth. The women who come out stronger are not those who never fell, but those who refused to make their pain the final chapter of their story. Wherever you are—in grief, confusion, exhaustion, or a season that feels endless—hold on. Seek support without shame, speak your truth without apology, and remember that needing help is not weakness; it is wisdom. You do not have to carry everything alone.
Valuable Lesson Learned
The most valuable lesson I have learned is that people need to feel seen before they can be helped. Early on, I thought offering information, solutions, and answers was most important. But over time, I realised that what truly transforms a person is the experience of being genuinely heard without judgment, without rush, without someone trying to fix them before they finish speaking. The second lesson is patience with people, with processes, and with yourself. Change rarely happens in a straight line. Progress can look like chaos before growth. If you are doing work that matters, you must be willing to play the long game.
