By Jibola Oyekunle
On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, people with special needs were celebrated across the globe. In Osun State, the celebration came with a vibe that has left evergreen memories in the minds of the celebrants. The event, tagged 2019 International Day for the Physically Challenged, was marked with pageantry.
- Governor Oyetola (backing the camera) being entertained by some students with special needs*
It started in the morning hours with prompt arrival of Mr. Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola at the venue of the colorful event, the School for the Challenged Special Needs Children, opposite Fakunle Unity Government High School, Osogbo, the state capital.
Oyetola’s arrival was greeted with a rousing fanfare by the apparently elated celebrants who sat in rolls, accordingly organised in groups — the blind, the spinal cord injured, the physically challenged and the intellectually disabled — their eyes glittering like vintage wine in the goblet.
- Gov Oyetola cutting the tape to declare the event open*
For the celebrants, the excitement was not just because it was their special day, but because, as one of them later came out to confess, it was the first time the Governor and number one citizen of the State would deem it fit to pay a visit to the school.
In the cushion chair where he sat, one could tell from the Governor’s irrepressible smiles that he was truly happy to be in the midst of great young men and women who were ebulliently showcasing their individual talents to the admiration and applause of their onlookers.
The celebrants demonstrated the ability in their disability, with amazing display of different skills and talents in arts and crafts and manipulative use and interpretations of talking drums. Guests were also thrilled with excellent display of skills in oral literature, intricate dance steps and entertained with a soccer match by the lame, using their respective hands.
- Gov Oyetola presented with a copy of the Holy Quran*
One of the celebrants later wowed the audience with his impressive painting works, one of which was designed in honour of Mr. Governor. It was unveiled with an outburst of cheer from curious onlookers, as the painting work came out to be a perfect replica of Governor Oyetola.
The celebration continued till noon when Oyetola inaugurated four socially-inclusive micro projects. The projects are Braille Press Center for the blind, hostel for girls with disabilities, fencing of school of children with special needs and six (6) tricycles for the physically challenged group.
Speaking at the occasion, the Governor reiterated the administration’s commitment to building a state where there would be equal opportunities for all citizens regardless of the difference in their respective physical status.
Oyetola maintained that the current administration has demonstrated great commitment to the welfare and education of the physically challenged persons in the same way it has done for their able-bodied colleagues.
He said the State of Osun has a unique way of celebrating people with disabilities with innovative and impactful programmes aimed at building an inclusive society and giving voice to the voiceless.
He disclosed that the State of Osun has 10 schools for persons with special needs – 8 residential and 2 day schools, adding that the government has remained committed to ensuring that feeding allowances and grants are promptly released to the schools.
He said the government also provided the schools with instructional materials while also training and re-training their specialist teachers. He also expressed his readiness to appoint from the people with special needs as their representatives in his government.
“We want to break all borders and ensure that no one has an excuse to waste his talent and deny Osun and the larger society their contributions. As an Administration, we place high premium on persons living with disabilities, we accord them the same attention and recognition as their able-bodied colleagues, and we make them an important part of everything we do,” he further stated.
The Governor revealed that the Braille Press Center for the Blind houses books and other reading materials transcribed for blind children to enable them to review and study the written words with the aid of the braille. This, he said, will enhance literacy and intellectual capability.
He described the Braille Press Centre as unique as it is “the first of its kind in the South West of Nigeria and it is supported by the State Government and managed by the Blind group. It will provide job opportunities for the blind and make them relevant members of the society.”
The Girls Hostel, according to the Governor, is to protect the girls with disabilities against abuse and straying out of school unguided while the six tricycles would solve transportation challenges of the people with special needs and at the same time, serve as sources of livelihood for them.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Adekunle Rafiu lauded the Governor for his commitment to building a more virile State in the midst of dearth of resources. He charged the beneficiaries of the projects to put them into productive use.
The newly inaugurated microprojects were funded by the state government in conjunction with the World Bank through the Osun Agency for the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP).
In her address at the occasion, the CSDP General Manager, Mrs. Funmi Aderonke said the four (4) completed micro projects are in tandem with the three philosophical principles of the State development agenda which are poverty eradication, gender and social inclusion, value addition and sustainability of development.
She revealed that the State government in conjunction with the World Bank through the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) had committed one hundred and nine million, three hundred and seventeen thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five naira (N109, 317,855.00) for 48 socially inclusive micro projects, including the four being commissioned at the occasion.
Also speaking, the Mistress of the school, Mrs.Titilayo Amoo, thanked the state government for the support and love for the people with special needs in the State, adding that the projects would increase the quality of teaching and learning in the school and enhance the pupils’ performance.
In their separate remarks, some of the pupils thanked Mr Governor for giving priority to their education and welfare. They commended him for identifying with them on the auspicious occasion, as they maintained that Oyetola was the only Governor who has visited the school since its establishment.