By Modupe George,
In a bid to make education accessible to all and sundry, and furtherance of its determination to improve the living conditions of children with disabilities in Ogun State schools, the state government has distributed additional 30 wheelchairs to children with mobility restrictions.
Earlier, the government had distributed a total of 25 wheelchairs to learners across the state at Daniel Akintonde Model School in Abeokuta, to mark the World’s Wheelchair Day.
While distributing the wheelchairs at the School for Children with disabilities, Sagamu, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, said that good health and facilities would encourage better learning outcomes among children, adding that the gesture would enable the beneficiaries to be mobile and self-reliant.
He noted that the state government understood the importance of education for all, including persons with disabilities, adding that “the administration is making efforts to improve the learning environment for learners with disabilities.”
The Commissioner also assured of more support for schools with children with disabilities, as the government would continue to make available devices that would help the learners grow and transform into better individuals and productive members of the society.
In her keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Education, Mrs Abosede Ogunleye, said that the present administration had given due recognition to the prospects, wellbeing and challenges of children with disabilities, noting that equal opportunities, conducive learning environment and social infrastructure were the fundamental rights of every citizen.
Ogunleye enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the wheelchairs, urging them to be steadfast, goal-oriented and focused in their academic pursuits.
The director, Special Needs Department in the Ministry, Mrs Oluwole Majekodunmi, in her remarks revealed that within the last three months, the state government had added value to the lives of learners with disabilities, while she encouraged well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to follow suit in extending hands of fellowship to the citizens with disabilities.
Parents of two of the beneficiaries, Mrs Aminat Adewusi and Mrs Olubukunola Ojo, while responding to the gesture, appreciated the government, saying the gift was a big relief for them and would go a long way to make life more comfortable for their wards.
Favour Etom of the Nawair-ud-deen High School, Isabo, Abeokuta and Malik Amusa from School for Children with disabilities, Ijebu-Ode, while speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, lauded the state government’s efforts at making life meaningful for them.
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
