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Monday 23 September 2024

Letter to Seyi Makinde on the deplorable plight of Oyo Physically Challenged Students







Your Excellency Sir,


The Oyo State Physically Challenged Pupils Crying for Intervention 


It is with heartfelt displeasure that I present my case before your Excellency. I strongly believe that in the course of my explanation your Excellency will have compassion to act swiftly as the existential problem needs urgent attention to avoid divine judgment. The reality of the case may not be opened to you sir but here is the opportunity for awareness.


Sir, it is not accidental that I chose to ensure that the education of the physically challenged pupils becomes my lifetime responsibility. I chose the path due to their plight in the callous, selfish and greedy society we live. A society where people acquire what they don’t need to deprive those who are dying due to lack.


Currently, I have 15 poor and blind pupils across schools in Lagos, Osun and Oyo state who are under my care. It is the case of one of the pupils who got admission into a secondary school in Aperin Oniyere Commercial Grammar School, Aperin, Ibadan that brought me in contact with the school mentioned.  His admission prompted me to follow him to the school for the first time at least to sort out payments and familiarize him with the environment.


Sir, on getting to the school, based on what I met, I think the past governors and everyone involved in the administration of education in Oyo state must seek forgiveness from their creators for being active participants and conscious accomplish in the affliction bestowed on the physically challenged pupils of that school.


Starting from the entrance of the school, I have never seen such a hazardous pathway for the physically challenged. I that have the two eyes widely opened fell down twice as the route is so narrow, dirty, slippery and stony with bushes flanking both sides. When I asked the students how the blind students pass through the path to and fro they said they must get use to falling and rising on each occasion. So pathetic. These are unguided blind pupils. Sir, I beg you in your magnanimity to please attend to this as urgent as it deserves sir.


The hostel is simply awful, such hostel should not be for human being in a society where there is social order, justice and fear of God, especially the hostel right behind the school. It is so dirty, filthy, stuffy and crowded. When I rejected that hostel for the boy I was taken to another one in the next street where we passed through ‘Agbo Ile’ to access. Though it appears better compared to the first one but no facility of any kind added to the risk that a blind student will be crossing the road daily to attend class. Sir, renovation of the classrooms in their hostel could save them a lot.


Almost all the classrooms are not conducive for learning for the physically challenged, not only because of lack of facilities alone but also lack basic materials and security. Sir, these pupils are not condemned.


Sir, the hostel is so empty that I have to buy everything needed for the challenged pupil to live in the hostel. The list was so embarrassing to include 4 liters of kerosene, DDT to kil the grass, hypo to wash their toilets, broom for sweeping, buckets, bed-sheet, detergent to wash  clothes, I bought  mattress for him to sleep, cupboard to keep personal effects, empty keg 10 liters to keep water. After this I still bought all educational materials ranging from typewriter, recorder, memory card, mabog, stylus, braille papers, carbon paper etc. Meaning that nothing to assist these pupils despite their challenges. All physically challenged pupils there are from poor homes.  Sir special attention to their educational materials will heave burden off these pupils parents sir.


Sir, feeding this pupils is a case to note. I will never believe that a government will budget one hundred naira (N100) per meal for a pupil. Meaning that we expect them to spend N100 in the morning afternoon and night which totaled N300 a day. The rate had been in that state since 2006 despite changes in the economy over time. This same food will be cooked by hostel staff who collects N10, 000 a month in this very Nigeria. How will these staff be honest in their stewardship? Improving the salary of the hostel staff and the meal budget of the pupils is highly need sir.


As at today, the deaf and the mentally impaired pupils could not attend the school because they don’t have classroom or facility for them. Alas, this is the only school in Oyo state owned by the government to cater for the physically challenged. We don’t need to wait until these pupils grow to become menace to the society sir. Just two classrooms will sort this out.


Truly, no government can attend to all social needs at the same time but this is a very serious and urgent case that needs attention without delay sir.


I shall be glad for your impacts in this respect sir and I believe that through your good office you will be different in this regards sir.


Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Oni Gbolabo John.

September 20th, 2024

 

08136112922

[email protected]


Cc:


To:

The Oyo State Governor,

Office of Oyo State Governor Building,

Office of the governor

Oyo State Government Secretariat,

Ibadan,

Oyo State.

Copy: Commissioner for Education,

           Head of SUBEB,

           Personal Assistance on Education.

           




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