The Nigerian Institute for Behavioural Science, Education and Care Professionals, NIsBEC, officially commenced operations in Lagos on Monday, August 24, 2026, with a mandate to strengthen professional standards, certification and ethical practice across behavioural science, special education and allied care services in Nigeria.

The institute was established as a central professional body for practitioners working in applied behaviour analysis, special education, behavioural health and care services.

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Its broader ambition is to improve access to qualified professionals while promoting transparency, continuing professional development, research and evidence-based practice.

Speaking at the flag-off, Dr Eziafakaku Nwokolo, a member of the NIsBEC Board of Directors and Trustees, said the institute intends to become a hub for professional innovation and knowledge exchange.

“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,” Nwokolo said.

The launch comes against a growing need for specialised educational, behavioural and care services for Nigerians living with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, learning difficulties and other special educational needs.

For families relying on therapists, educators, behavioural specialists and care professionals, the quality and integrity of professional services can have a significant effect on learning, development and everyday wellbeing.

NIsBEC says its response is to establish a unified framework for assessing professional competence, verifying training, promoting ethical conduct and maintaining a reliable registry of certified practitioners.

Mrs Daisy Jonathan, another member of the institute’s Board of Directors and Trustees, said professional certification would form an important part of that framework.

“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,” Jonathan said.

She added that the system would emphasise competence and integrity alongside informed consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, collaboration, respect and person-centred practice.

Practitioners who successfully complete the certification process will receive NIsBEC certification and be listed on the institute’s Certificant Registry.

The publicly accessible registry is intended to allow employers, families, organisations and other stakeholders to verify the certification status of practitioners.

The flag-off attracted professionals from occupational therapy, behavioural science, education and healthcare, alongside government representatives, parents, care providers and members of the media.

Discussions during the event also explored research and advocacy, partnerships with schools, hospitals and universities, and community engagement through workshops, outreach programmes and awareness campaigns.

These areas reflect NIsBEC’s stated ambition to extend its impact beyond professional certification by encouraging research, supporting policy development and improving public understanding of behavioural health and special education.

The institute’s launch also highlights a broader conversation around the need for stronger professional structures in Nigeria’s special needs sector.

As demand for specialised services grows, families and institutions increasingly require clearer ways to assess practitioners’ training, competence and professional standing.

NIsBEC says its work will therefore focus on establishing and maintaining competency standards while encouraging ethical and evidence-based practice across applied behaviour analysis, special education and related care fields.

The institute has invited professionals and organisations interested in registration, partnerships and collaborations to engage through its official platform.