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Understanding disability in Nigeria: a commentary on “Country profile: intellectual and developmental disability in Nigeria”

Judith McKenzie (Division of Disability Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa)
Chioma Ogochukwu Ohajunwa (Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa)

Tizard Learning Disability Review

ISSN: 1359-5474

Article publication date: 3 April 2017

250

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to respond to the country report about understanding disability in Nigeria by highlighting the important points that it raises and suggesting further areas for exploration.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors identify the main themes of the paper and situate these within an African context, recognizing the diversity of African countries while at the same time arguing that it is imperative for African countries to look to research from each other in addition to that emanating from the Global North.

Findings

The issues of terminology and lack of demographic detail in the Nigerian context are discussed and suggestions made as to how these might begin to be addressed. Features of the African context which are apparent in Nigeria, such as poverty, a very young population and the effects of forced migration, are amplified with reference to literature from other low-income countries. The significance of family care in this context is highlighted and identified as a focus for future research.

Originality/value

This paper speaks to the need to build an African body of knowledge around disability that is not ignorant of the literature from the Global North but which incorporates this knowledge in a critical way to understand better the African context.

Keywords

Citation

McKenzie, J. and Ohajunwa, C.O. (2017), "Understanding disability in Nigeria: a commentary on “Country profile: intellectual and developmental disability in Nigeria”", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 94-98. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-02-2017-0008

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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