The Nigerian Institute for Behavioural Science, Education and Care Professionals, NIsBEC has officially commenced operations in Lagos, with a mandate to promote professional standards, ethical practice and competency in behavioural science, special education and allied care services in Nigeria.
The institute, which was flagged off on Monday, August 24, 2026, was established as a central professional body for practitioners in behavioural health, special education and care services, with a focus on professional development, public awareness, research, knowledge exchange and evidence-based practice.
Speaking at the flag-off, a member of the Board of Directors and Trustees of NIsBEC, Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, said the institute would serve as a hub for innovation and professional development in the sector.
“Our goal is to empower practitioners, influence policy, and create a platform for research and knowledge exchange that will transform behavioural science, special education and care in Nigeria,” she said.
Nwokolo noted that many individuals living with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, learning difficulties and other special educational needs rely on professionals and paraprofessionals for education, therapy, behavioural intervention and daily support.
She said NIsBEC was established to provide a unified system for setting competency standards, verifying training, promoting ethical conduct and maintaining a reliable professional registry for practitioners in the sector.
Also speaking, a member of the Board of Directors and Trustees, Mrs. Daisy Jonathan, stressed the importance of professional standards and certification for care professionals.
Jonathan said NIsBEC currently provides certification pathways across four broad areas: behavioural science, special education, allied health and care, categorised into paraprofessional, professional and advanced professional practice.
She noted that the certification system would emphasise professional competence, integrity, respect, informed consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, collaboration and person-centred practice.
According to her, professionals who successfully complete the certification process will receive NIsBEC certification and be entered into the NIsBEC Certificant Registry, which would enable employers, organisations, families and other stakeholders to verify practitioners’ certification status.
The flag-off brought together professionals from occupational therapy, behavioural science, government, healthcare, education and care services, as well as parents and media representatives.
Discussions during the event covered research and advocacy, partnerships with schools, hospitals, universities and care organisations, as well as community engagement through workshops, outreach programmes and awareness campaigns.
The institute said the initiatives would support behavioural research and advocacy while contributing to policies aimed at strengthening mental health and educational systems across the country.
With the commencement of its operations, NIsBEC said it would continue working towards raising competency standards in applied behaviour analysis (ABA), special education and allied care, while maintaining a registry of qualified and certified professionals providing special needs services in Nigeria.