First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Besty Obaseki, on Thursday, assured students with special needs in the state of the government’s assistance to help them actualise their dreams and full potentials, while also commending them for their zeal to acquire education in spite of their challenges.
This was in Benin City as she visited Ihogbe College, a government school for students with visual, hearing and mental impairments to celebrate the 2017 National Children’s Day, alongside the wife of the Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Mrs Betty Okonobor and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Itohan Obayagbona.
“We are committed to doing what God has brought us to do in Edo state. You are God’s special children and we will take extra care of you. I will work to get Mr Governor and the relevant stakeholders to provide all the necessary materials needed to teach you properly and make you comfortable.
“I am assuring you that toilets, electricity, learning materials and other facilities that will make you learn better will be provided”, she said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Obaseki also commended the teachers for their selfless service and commitment towards ensuring that the children received quality education and promised frequent visits to the school to check on their welfare.
The governor’s wife, however, admonished the teachers to be more proactive to stand up for what was due them and acquire more knowledge and trainings in order to improve the learning conditions of their students.
Meanwhile, the Principals of the Senior and Junior Secondary sections of the College, Mr Williams Iyekekpolor and Mrs Edith Onaiwo, commended the First Lady for the visit, noting that the school, which was the only government approved school for Children with special needs in the state, had produced students excelling in journalism, the academia and other disciplines.
They also applauded the state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, for approving the 30% special allowance for special needs teachers in the state, but called for state government’s support in the provision of transportation or boarding facilities for the students, who came from different parts of the state adding that more special need teachers should be deployed to the school.
