The SMILE project, Nigeria
The ‘Support Mainstreaming Inclusion so all Learn Equally’ (SMILE) project is a community-driven initiative to promote inclusive education in mainstream schools.
About the project
Nigeria has the highest estimated number of children out of school in the world. These children include large numbers of girls, children from nomadic communities and 90 per cent of Nigeria’s children with disabilities.
Children with disabilities face multiple barriers to participating in education including inaccessible schools, a lack of qualified teachers and support services, discrimination, and an inflexible curriculum.
The UK Aid-funded Support Mainstreaming Inclusion so all Learn Equally (SMILE) project was designed to respond to these challenges and innovate and test a locally-led blueprint for inclusive education in Nigeria between May 2019 and September 2023.
Project partners: Sightsavers, Institute of Development Studies, Nigerian Association of the Blind, Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, Albino Foundation, Home for the Handicapped Persons Foundation, Women with Disability Self-Reliance Foundation, Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria, Ministry of Education Kaduna State, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board.
Project snapshot
The SMILE project has created a locally-led, sustainable and replicable model for inclusive education in Nigeria.
Read moreSherifat’s story
Sherifat is a teacher at one of the SMILE project schools in Kaduna state, Nigeria.
“Through the SMILE project, I’ve received training on inclusive education – we were taught that it is necessary to make education inclusive in such a way that all children will be given opportunity to learn in the same environment regardless of their physical, emotional, social or linguistic capabilities.
“It’s about including children with disabilities, making them feel part of society – enhancing their social interactions, increasing their learning potential and giving them the right, full support when needed.”
Risikat's story
Risikat is the executive director of Women with Disability Self Reliance Foundation, an OPD organisation in Kaduna, and a member of the SMILE project's steering committee.
“The steering committee is a combination of government and OPDs. Our role is to increase the participation of people with disabilities, to make sure that projects are designed in a more inclusive way, and that the voices of people with disabilities are heard.
“The government now realise that we have the potential to lead, to make decisions on issues affecting us.”
Useful resources
SMILE learning compendium
A summary of learning and evidence from the SMILE project.
Wellbeing and inclusion checklist tool
A tool to assess the inclusion and wellbeing of children with disabilities.
On data and disability: piloting the Child Functioning Module in Nigerian schools
A blog about piloting the Child Functioning Module during school enrolment as part of SMILE.
Support guide for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities
A resource guide to support parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
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