Top 15 Special Needs Schools in Nigeria

Looking for a special needs school near you?

Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, ‘This is our special duty, that if anyone specially needs our help, we should give him such help to the utmost of our power.’ As much as many may share

In fact, meeting the needs of children is becoming increasingly challenging for their parents. For parents whose kids learn differently, the challenge is more. Juggling their jobs and family responsibility with taking special care of their kids is no child’s play.

To ease this burden for parents and provide a suitable learning environment for children with special emotional, physical or academic needs, there are some special needs schools with professionals who are trained to give such children needed education and care.

These schools know that all children – including children with disabilities and children with special needs – have a constitutional right to quality education, and provide education that suits the abilities and capacities of individual students. In Nigeria, there are quite a number of special needs schools. 

Sadly, most parents are not even aware that these schools exist.

We have put together a list of some of the special needs schools operating in Nigeria. If you are a parent looking to enroll your child in one of such schools, this list will definitely be of help to you.

The special needs schools listed here are listed in no particular order. List of Special Needs Schools in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja Nigeria

1. Royal School of Therapy Education, Abuja

Royal school of therapy is a non-profit private school comprising General Education and Special Education services for students (Kindergarten to High School for General Education; Kindergarten to Adulthood for Special Education) services for students with and without disabilities.

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They provide educational therapy and academic tutoring for students with learning difficulties due to academic challenges, disabilities and traumatic brain injury.

They are located at Plot 194, 4461 Crescent (Abubakar Ali Gombe Street) Close to Christ Chosen Group of Schools Citec Villa, off 4th/6th Avenue by the Citec Gate Gwarinpa Abuja, FCT.

2 .C.A..D.E.T Academy, Abuja

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C.A.D.E.T. Academy is a research- and evidence-based special needs education and learning program located in Abuja, Nigeria. C.A.D.E.T means Comprehensive Autism and Related Disabilities Education and Training Academy.

The Academy adopts either an inclusive or intensive one-on-one approach, under a loving atmosphere, and applies research-based and evidence-based educational procedures to exchange undesirable habits and behaviour with acceptable and desirable ones. 

They are located at C.A.D.E.T. Academy, Block L2, No 13, Uruguay Street, Maitama, Abuja. Phone number: +234-809-127-3666. 

3. Centre for Children With Special Needs, Abuja

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‘’CCSN’’ is a Non-governmental organization serving as a learning support service and resource centre for children with special needs, set up in the regular school environment, to promote inclusion (integration) and give quality education.

They support children with Cerebral Palsy Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum disorder, learning difficulties, and other related developmental disabilities.

They are located at 4 Lake Chad Crescent, Off IBB Way, Maitama District FCT-Abuja, Telephone: +2349020454575, +2348069738449

4. Modupe Cole Memo rial Child, Lagos

Modupe Cole Memorial was founded as far back as 1960. The school supports children with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, e.t.c. The school runs both academic and vocational.

They are located at No1, St. Finbarr College Road, Akoka or call 08074571573 for more information.

5. Alderstown School For The Deaf, Delta State

The Alderstown School for the Deaf (founded in 1954) is a Special Basic Education Institution along Skinn Road in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. It is a specialist primary school for children aged 4 – 12 or more who are deaf or suffer from hearing and speech difficulties.

They are located at Skinn road, Warri, Warri Central, Delta State.

6. Open Door Special education centre, Jos, Plateau State

They provide special care for children with intellectual disabilities, delays and developmental delay such as Mental retardation, autism, ASD, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, Down syndrome, reading disability, dyslexia, speech and language delay, articulation disorder, learning disability.

They are located at Open Doors Special Education Centre off Liberty Boulevard in Giring Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Phone number: 234 (0)803 453 4990

7. Anthos House, Lekki, Lagos

Anthos House is an autism school in Lagos. They believe in an integrated approach to education, care and therapy while being committed to strong academic progress delivered as functional skills.

The core purpose of Anthos House is to deliver broad, balanced and relevant learning programmes to our learners, which take into account each child’s unique needs and abilities. 

They are located at 1, Platinum Way, Opposite Jakande First Gate, Lekki Phase II, Lagos, Nigeria. Phone number: +234 702 663 5554

8. Otana Hearing Centre, Portharcourt

They help children with hearing loss enjoy sounds, voices, people and conversations in their lives.

Their services include: Hearing assessment, hearing aid manufacture and dispensing, ear moulds manufacturing and hearing conservation programmes, empowering your child with communication ability into the family and society.

They are located at OTANA HOUSE, 69 Wawuna Street, off Obi Wali road, Rumuigbo P.O.Box 8867 Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Phone numbers: +234-8035056602 +234-8033999820

9. Olg Health Foundation and Autism Centre, Abuja

Our Lady of Guadalupe Health Foundation/Autism Centre is a foundation that offers biomedical intervention for children in the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Nigeria with a Defeat Autism Now (DAN) trained doctor using the world recognized DAN protocol.

OLG is located inside LEA Primary school opposite Oando filling station, Alex Ekwueme Way, Jabi, and Abuja FCT in Nigeria. Phone numbers: 0803 425 6471, 0803 056 4409, 08175722911.

10. Start Right Center, Lagos Start Right Center is a special school for children who have traits of autism, Attention Deficit Disorder and other learning difficulties.

The school is located at 24 Ayinde Giwa Street, Surulere, Lagos. Phone numbers: 08102115212, 08023378084

11. Patrick Speech and Language Centre, Ikeja, Lagos

PSLC provides specialized educational services for individuals living with Autism in Nigeria. They are located at Patrick Speech and Languages Centre 13b Remi-Fanikayode Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos. Phone number +234-803 301 9865, +234-818 012 7108.

12. Centre for Autism and Developmental Disabilities

CADD is a Non-Governmental Organization focusing on autism spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities. They aim to encourage early intervention for individuals with autism and those who may be at risk of the condition.

13. Hope House Initiative, Abuja

Hope House Initiative is located at Plot 61 Dahiru Sale Street off-road 622, 6th Avenue Gwarimpa (Directly Opp. AEDC Office), Abuja. They offer special training to children with autism. Phone number: +234 (0) 813 733 3081, +234 (0) 808 407 2933.

14. Benola, Lekki

Benola is located at Suite 19/20, Praise Plaza, Ajah/Ado Road, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

They are a non-government organization focused on professionally networking families, friends, healthcare professional, caregivers and educators in order to keep them abreast of current trends and better management options for Cerebral Palsy.

Phone number +234 - 081 7097 3349

15. Disability empowerment solution, Ibadan

DES is a Non-governmental, Non-profit making, Charitable and Empowerment organization that engage in various activities to meet the needs and yearnings of persons with disabilities.

They are located at 22, Alaafin Avenue, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State. Phone number: +234-8074505252