The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji on Tuesday made personal donation of the sum of One million, five hundred thousand and hundreds of mattresses to the three special schools in the State in fulfilment of his earlier promise to support the students with needed facilities.
The benefiting schools include Government Special school for the Physically challenged and Mentally Retarded, Ido Ekiti; Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro Ekiti; and Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti.
Presenting the cash and mattresees at the respective schools, the Wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the donation was borne out of compassion towards ensuring the well-being of students living with disabilities in the state.
Dr Oyebanji, who was accompanied by some aides of the Governor, said the visit was also to ensure an on-the-spot assessment of the schools’ facilities and to determine the welfare and well being of the special students.
The First Lady encouraged the students to reciprocate the love and kindness of the present administration by being obedient and paying more attention to their education.
She also charged the teachers and other workers of the schools to continue to show love to the students, promising that there would be regular visits to the schools to ensure that proper attention is given to the students.
The First Lady assured the students that their welfare is being accorded top priority because they occupied special place in the heart of the Governor and the government of the state.
She urged them to see themselves as special creature of God with a purpose to fulfill.
“You are special and dear to the heart of the Governor as well as the Government of the state. And that is why particularly attention is being paid to your welfare and wellbeing. I want you to reciprocate this by focusing on your education, which will prepare you for a great future.
“The Governor sends his warm greetings and will visit you soon just as he did recently. We shall be visiting you regularly because you occupy a special place in the heart of the Governor who sees you as his children” the First Lady’s said.
In his remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode said the Governor’s love for special students could not be quantified hence the regular visits to the special schools to make them feel a sense of belonging.
Oyebode however disclosed that relevant ministries and government agencies were currently working in their relentless effort to ensure that issues affecting the well-being of the special students in the state are well attended to.
It is recalled that Governor Oyebanji directed that cash and material gifts meant for his birthday should be sent to the special schools last December. During his visit to one of the schools last month, the Governor directed that an audit of facilities in the schools should be carried out and submitted to him. The Tuesday’s donation was made to take care of the shortage of mattresses being experienced in the schools.
In their separate responses, the School Principals of the special schools, Mr Rasak Salami, Mrs Temitope Adu and Mrs Bola Amogbonjaye appreciated the government gesture saying that it has put smiles on the faces of the students.
On the entourage of the visit are the special Adviser to Governor on community Mobilisation, Mrs Mary Omotoso, Director of Special Education Services, Mr Patrick Oni among others.
