ASSESSMENT OF INCLUSIVE DESIGN ELEMENTS AND USERS' PERCEPTION OF ACCESSIBILITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Inclusive design is fundamental to ensuring equitable access to public buildings by
accommodating users with diverse physical abilities and functional needs. However, many
local government secretariat buildings in Nigeria continue to exhibit accessibility deficiencies
that limit effective service delivery and user satisfaction. This study assessed the availability
of inclusive design elements and examined users' perceptions of accessibility in selected local
government secretariat buildings in Kwara State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional
research design employing a mixed-method approach was adopted. Eight secretariat buildings
were selected using multistage sampling, while 373 questionnaires were administered to staff
members, of which 356 were valid for analysis, representing a 95.4% response rate. Field
observations complemented the questionnaire survey, and data were analysed using descriptive
statistics, including frequencies, percentages, Mean Weighted Values (MWV), and Aggregate
Weighted Values (AWV). The findings revealed considerable variation in the implementation
of inclusive design elements across the selected secretariats. Oke-Ero (AWV = 4.20) and
Kaiama (AWV = 3.92) demonstrated the highest accessibility performance, whereas Offa
(AWV = 2.05), Asa (AWV = 2.38), and Moro (AWV = 2.41) recorded poor accessibility levels.
Signage clarity and circulation spaces consistently achieved higher accessibility ratings, while
entrance ramps and accessible toilet facilities emerged as the weakest inclusive design elements
across most buildings. The study concludes that the inconsistent provision of inclusive design
features limits equitable access to local government secretariat buildings in Kwara State.