Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between inclusive education practices and social integration of children with disabilities has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While inclusive education practices is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on social integration of children with disabilities within Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to inclusive education practices are helping or hindering social integration of children with disabilities — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Inclusive Education Practices on social integration of children with disabilities in Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which inclusive education practices influences social integration of children with disabilities within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with inclusive education practices in relation to social integration of children with disabilities.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing inclusive education practices in order to improve social integration of children with disabilities.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of inclusive education practices on social integration of children with disabilities in Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does inclusive education practices influence social integration of children with disabilities within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with inclusive education practices in relation to social integration of children with disabilities?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize inclusive education practices in order to improve social integration of children with disabilities?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around social integration of children with disabilities. For managers and practitioners within Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how inclusive education practices can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on special education by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Inclusive Education Practices and its relationship with social integration of children with disabilities within the context of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.