STRATEGIES FOR ATTAINING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: NATIONAL RECOMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN SOUTH-SOUTH GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

This study investigated strategies for achieving sustainable inclusive education in South-south Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. A survey of two hundred (200) participants comprising of key actors of Sustainable Development Goals such as Desk Officers Ministry of Education, members of National Assembly and House Representatives, etc. from South-south Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria selected through expert sampling technique. Three null hypotheses were formulated to direct the study. A twenty (30) item questionnaire with a four point rating scale and reliability coefficient of 0.76 was used to canvass opinions of these stakeholders on the effectiveness of strategies such as establishment of National Commission on Sustainable Development for Persons with Disabilities, workable follow up mechanisms and disaggregated data by disability so to establish a link between these strategies and achievement of sustainable inclusive education. The data collected were statistically analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. The findings revealed that these strategies are effective and significantly related with achievement of sustainable inclusive education. It was recommended that the government should establish workable follow up mechanisms at federal, state and local government levels so as to monitor evaluate and hold key national SDGs actors accountable for implementation of the development agenda.