Long-Term Outcomes of Supported Employment Programmes for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in South West Nigeria

This doctoral study examines the long-term outcomes of supported employment programmes for persons with intellectual disabilities in South West Nigeria, providing the first rigorous longitudinal investigation of competitive employment sustainability, quality of life, and social participation for this population in Nigerian labour market conditions. Supported employment, which provides ongoing job coaching and workplace support rather than pre-vocational training in segregated settings, is the evidence-based approach of choice for persons with intellectual disabilities internationally. In South West Nigeria, three supported employment programmes have operated in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo for between five and ten years, providing an opportunity for retrospective longitudinal outcome evaluation. The study employs a retrospective longitudinal mixed-methods design, tracking the employment and social participation outcomes of one hundred and twenty programme completers over a five-year period using archived programme data, follow-up interviews, and validated quality of life assessments. Survival analysis examines employment retention trajectories, while multilevel regression identifies predictors of long-term employment success. Qualitative narrative analysis of forty in-depth interviews with former programme participants provides experiential depth. The study makes an original empirical contribution to the supported employment literature from an African context and generates critical data for advocacy on disability employment in Nigeria. Recommendations address programme sustainability, employer engagement strategies, and integration of supported employment into national disability policy. Keywords: supported employment, intellectual disability, long-term outcomes, South West Nigeria, quality of life.