18/08/2026
PROFESSOR IBIENE TANDI LONGJOHN DELIVERS IAUE’S 83RD INAUGURAL LECTURE; STRESSES NEED TO SEE LEARNERS WITH DIFFICULTIES AS ASSETS
A Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rumuolumeni Port-Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria Professor Ibiene Tandi LongJohn has stressed the urgent need to shifting mindsets.
Speaking on the topic “ The Complete Teacher: Assessment and Evaluation For Equity and Inclusion” on Thursday August 13th, 2026 at the University auditorium, Professor LongJohn urged all not to see learners with some learning difficulties as a deficit but as assets.
The 83rd inaugural Lecturer observed that what is mostly practiced in schools is more of selective education and classrooms managed with favouritism. She opined that even where teachers have knowledge of and positive attitude towards inclusive knowledge and education, implementation challenges persist, indicating the need for teacher training institutions to include specialization in inclusive education.
The Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, hinted that the teacher’s role in a classroom marked by cultural, linguistics, gender and socio-economic diversity extends beyond knowledge transmission to the promotion of equity, fairness and inclusive learner participation.
She stressed the need for Nigeria to bridge the gap between what is put down in policy papers and what is practiced in the school. Assessment and Evaluation in inclusive education she noted represents more than a technical challenge as they embody the ethical commitment to educational equity.
The University Don remarked that inclusive assessment practices while challenging to implement, yield significant benefits for all learners. She also said that the gap between policy intent and classroom practice remains substantial with teachers consistently reporting inadequate training, limited resources and insufficient support.
The Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation recommended that teacher education institutions should integrate inclusive assessment principles throughout teacher education programmes, include a course or specialization in special needs and inclusive education, provide practical experiences in inclusive classroom settings, model inclusive assessment practices in teacher education courses.
Furthermore teachers and school she suggested should UDL and differentiated assessment as core practices, develop teacher assessment literacy through professional development, establish communities of practice for sharing inclusive assessment strategies, create classroom environments conducive to inclusive assessment, use varied and authentic assessment methods.
Policy makers she recommend should strengthen policy frameworks for inclusive education and assessment, provide resources for inclusive education implementation, amend laws establishing TETFUND and ITF to fund Vocational and inclusive education, support research on inclusive education in Nigerian context.
According to the 83rd inaugural Lecturer, researchers should conduct context specific research on inclusive assessment in Nigeria, examine the impact of inclusive assessment on learner outcomes, develop and validate inclusive assessment frameworks for Nigerian classrooms, investigate teacher perceptions, knowledge and attitudes.
Other recommendations that she made are blended learning environments and inclusive assessment, assistive technologies for learners with disabilities, learning management system and accessible assessments, assessments that reflects real world contexts and challenges, cultural competences , understanding and valuing students backgrounds, indigenous perspectives and place based approaches , real world vignettes and scenario based assessment, shifting from traditional lecturing to student centred assessment culture, policies that mandate inclusion without supporting implementation as well as limited pre-service and in-service training in inclusive assessment.
She further called for restructuring of teacher education programmes to embed inclusive education, in-service training for teachers on special needs education, Government support for inclusive education resources and community and school based management committee involvement.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of IAUE Professor Okechuku Onuchuku who was represented by the Dean of Faculty of Education Professor Livinus Ogbondah commended the inaugural Lecturer for her brilliant presentation and for highlighting the need for all to recommit to the kind of teaching that truly transforms lives.
Professor Beatrice Ekechak Awortu in a vote of thanks appreciated everyone who found time to honour the celebrant with their presence.
18/08/2026
