By Ayodele Oni
As preparations for the celebration of the birthday of Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji this year, gathers momentum, five special schools in Ekiti State are now counting their blessings from gestures from friends and relations during previous year’s celebrations.
Oyebanji marks his birthday on every December 21.
The five special schools are now wearing new looks with ultra modern facilities which were procured from donations made to them in commemoration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s birthday in the last three years.
Governor Oyebanji had commenced the act of celebrating his birthday with students with disabilities in the three schools since 2022 when he assumed office sustaining the gesture on December 21st of every year.
Oyebanji has always instructed his friends, political associates and groups not to place newspaper advertisement on his birthday, urging them instead to convert the money for such adverts into donations to the special schools in the state.
Three years down the line, the special schools now have better facilities courtesy of the donations by the Governor and his friends and associates.
According to a report on the Governor’s donations to the schools and centres for last year, the benefiting special schools are: Government Special School for Children with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities, Ido- Ekiti, which got total cash donation of N5.4 million; Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti which was boosted with total cash of N7.8 million; and Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti which got a total cash donation of N7 million.
Others are Government Therapy Centre for Children With Disabilities, Ado Ekiti; which was gifted a total cash donation of N1 million and Ekiti State Relief and Rehabilitation Center, Ado-Ekiti which got M6.8 million; amounting to a total sum of over N28 million from the donors to the schools and centers.
The cash donations are outside the materials and food items donated to the schools and centres by the Governor, his family members and his associates.
This was disclosed in a report on the projects carried out with the donations forwarded to the Governor by the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.
Projects executed with the cash donations include purchase of 30 iron beds, installation of 2.5 KVA solar inverter energy systems and renovation and installation of 43-inch plasma television at the Ekiti State Relief and Rehabilitation Centre, Ado Ekiti.
At Government Special School for Children with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities, Ido Ekiti, 50 new iron beds were provided due to the massive increase in students’ enrolment.
Facilities provided with the donations at Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti include provision of two rooms, purchase of storage equipment (two deep freezers of 160 litres each), a 5.5KVA generator and a 2KVA stabilizer to ensure reliable power supply.
The facilities provided with the donations at Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro Ekiti include solar inverter installation, dormitory bathroom construction, renovation of four toilet rooms in the boys’ hostel and successful execution of water reticulation to both bathrooms to ensure regular water supply.
According to the report, Government Therapy Centre for Children with Disabilities, Ado- Ekiti is yet to utilize the money donated to it as at the time of submission of the report to the Governor.
Princess Agboola noted that the special schools have benefitted immensely from the donations received from the Governor and his admirers who were acting under his instructions to donate to the schools, noting that the gesture has boosted facilities in the schools.
Princess Agboola said in the report: “Every year, you have magnanimously encouraged your family, friends, and political associates to donate to the Special Schools and Centers instead of giving you birthday gifts.
“This generous gesture has greatly supported the development of these facilities and fostered a sense of inclusion among the children in our society.
“On behalf of the three special schools and two centers, we express our heartfelt gratitude and pray for God’s blessings upon you and your households. I am pleased to share how each facility utilized the 2024 birthday donations.
“The successful execution of these projects underscores the significant impact of Your Excellency’s commitment to the Community of Persons with Disabilities.”, she added
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