Inclusive education not a special program – Educationist

Founder of Mayhandsome Educational Consult, an educational think tank and teacher development hub, Ms. Ayobami Oluwamayomikun Odeyale, has said inclusive education is not a special program but a systemic approach that every child has a place, a voice, and a right to thrive in the classroom. With more than a decade of experience in education […]

Founder of Mayhandsome Educational Consult, an educational think tank and teacher development hub, Ms. Ayobami Oluwamayomikun Odeyale, has said inclusive education is not a special program but a systemic approach that every child has a place, a voice, and a right to thrive in the classroom.

With more than a decade of experience in education strategy, teacher development, and inclusive pedagogy, Ayobami has positioned herself at the forefront of a transformative movement to overhaul how African schools identify, support, and integrate children with learning differences.

From designing scalable training models for teachers, to publishing curriculum frameworks now referenced by education researchers and policymakers alike, her work has made her a widely recognized leader in special and inclusive education in Nigeria — and increasingly, across the continent.

Notably, Ayobami’s interventions go far beyond individual training. She has helped school leaders embed inclusion into their institutional DNA — influencing policy, resource allocation, and teacher evaluation in real and lasting ways.

“Inclusive education is not a special program,” Ayobami says. “It’s a systemic approach that says every child — regardless of ability — has a place, a voice, and a right to thrive in the classroom.”

Ayobami’s reputation is bolstered not just by practice, but by theory. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed research papers that are fast becoming seminal texts for teacher training institutions and education ministries:

Ayobami’s work has earned her multiple national recognitions, affirming her elite standing among Nigerian educators.
These include:

The Award of Excellence from the Student Development Academy, where she served as lead consultant in overhauling their inclusive education policies.

The Award of Excellence from the Directorate of Youth, Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) for her service to underserved student communities.

The Nigerian Breweries Graduate Scholarship, awarded competitively to scholars with outstanding promise and social impact potential.

Each award is backed by institutional prestige and rigorous selection — underscoring her recognition beyond the school system and into the national sphere.

As she sets her sights on bringing her expertise to the United States, Ayobami’s mission is clear: to scale her methods across diverse education systems, with particular focus on underserved, multilingual, and neurodiverse student populations.

Through school partnerships, curriculum design, and teacher capacity-building, she intends to address national priorities aligned with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and broader equity goals in the U.S.

Her goals include: Establishing a U.S.-based education consultancy focused on inclusive and multicultural learning; Collaborating with school districts to train staff on culturally responsive, trauma-informed instruction; and Publishing expanded research for U.S. audiences on global approaches to inclusive classroom design.

“What we’ve done in Nigeria — building tools for inclusion with minimal resources — shows what’s possible anywhere,” she says. “The future of education is inclusive, and I’m here to help shape it.”