Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, marked his 57th birthday today by donating N21 million and food items to special schools and centres catering to people with disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
According to a statement on the Facebook page of the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, ₦5 million each was gifted to three special schools and a rehabilitation centre, while a therapy centre for children with disabilities received ₦1 million.
The beneficiaries included the Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro Ekiti; the Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti; the Government Special School for the Mentally Challenged, Ido Ekiti; and the State Relief and Rehabilitation Centre for the Mentally Challenged, Ado Ekiti.
Earlier in the week, Governor Oyebanji had requested friends, associates, and the general public to forgo organising birthday celebrations or newspaper advertisements in his honour.
Instead, he urged them to channel their resources toward supporting vulnerable children and special schools in the state.
At a brief event held at the Oshuntokun Pavilion, Government House, Ado Ekiti, the Governor, represented by his wife, Olayemi Oyebanji, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the living standards of people with disabilities.
He emphasised that their welfare remains a top priority and called on well-meaning individuals and organizations to join his government in creating a more inclusive society.
“This gesture aligns with our administration’s developmental agenda to ensure no one is left behind. We are dedicated to implementing programs and policies that provide sustainable livelihoods for the PWD community,” he said.
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Mrs Oyebanji expressed the governor’s belief in the power of education and inclusivity.
She told the cheering students, “This is why, every year, he ensures that the needs of students in special schools across Ekiti are met. Today’s donation is to support efforts by the government and individuals to improve your living conditions and to remind you that your welfare is of utmost importance to the Governor.”
She also encouraged associates of the governor and prominent citizens to channel their intended birthday gifts to the special schools in line with the Governor’s directive.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Adetoun Agboola, commended the Governor for his unwavering support for the PWD community.
She noted that his initiatives have transformed societal perceptions of children with special needs, making parents more proud of their children’s unique talents.
The event featured praise and worship sessions led by the children, who also prayed for the Governor and his family before cutting the birthday cake with the First Lady and members of the State Executive Council.
