The Blind Write Gov Aiyedatiwa, Seek Employment As Teachers

By Ayodele Oni

Apparently feeling neglected in the scheme of things, Visually impaired persons under the umbrella of Nigeria Association of the Blind, Ondo state chapter, have written to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa seeking employment as teachers in public schools.

Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board and Teaching Service Commission recently put up advertisement for teaching vacancies in public schools.

They appealed to the state government to save the future of the blind community in the state.

The association specifically appealed to the state government to employ members of the visually impaired as teachers in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the visually impaired, the Chairman of the Ondo state Chapter of NAB, Akilo Matthew and the association’s  Secretary, Idowu Oluwasola, urged the state government to recruit their members into Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board and Teaching Service Commission.

According to them, recruiting members of the association will help to provide quality education and employment opportunities for the blind and visually impaired persons (VIPs).

The association, in the letter addressed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, lamented that the association was shocked at the exclusion of the blind teachers in the recruitment of teachers in the state.

The letter read: “We the Nigerian Association of the Blind, Ondo State Chapter, with honour and respects write to appeal to you to please save the future of the blind community in Ondo State.

“Sir, it is good to let you know that the blind people work tirelessly before they can achieve their aim in education as a result of sight challenge but with the support of the Ondo State Government.

” The Ondo State School for the Visually Impaired was established for us to learn how to read and write braille with the use of hand and also to compete favourably with the able- ones, Ondo State Government went ahead to approve Owo High School for our secondary level.

“All this were done for us by the government in order for us to have a sense of belonging. From there we proceeded to higher institution to specialize in one field or the other”

“For the special unit in Owo High School, as we speak we only have one teacher in that secondary school where we are having 20-25 special educator teacher before, but now it is only one and that one will soon retire.

“With this we appeal to you in the name of God to recruit members into both SUBEB and Teaching Service Commission.

“Sir, it is no longer news that the person with sunt impairment teach in various schools all over the country which Ondo State is not excluded. So many of them have retired but we still have them around.

“We still have few of them around. We have two (VP) in Owo High School, Mrs. Idris and Mrs. Eyinola while other schools like Ajuta Grammar School, Ogbagi Akoko Mr. Festus Bamisile as a teacher working without any inch.

“The same thing is applicable in our various institutions in Ondo State as we have Dr. Olurotimi Olubodede, Mass Communication Department, Akungba-Akoko, Mr. Akinbolade Gbenga working at Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo city and so on.

“Finally sir, we appeal to you in the name of God to recruit our members into both Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board and Teaching Service Commission, so that our members will be happy, which we believe that you will make us happy too.”