By Segun Fagbemi,Ilorin.
Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has promised a sustainable care for pupils and students of School For Special Needs (SSN) and Queen Elizabeth Girls School (QEGS) both in Ilorin as part of the implementations of the policies of his administration.
The governor, while boosting the hopes of over 500 students of the SSN for a brighter future during his presentation of a brand new 32 seater bus to them, assured them of his readiness to sustain the kind gestures beyond the donation to other essential needs of the students.
Besides, he pledged continuous interest in ensuring quality girl-child education in Kwara, noting that such an investment would bring out the best qualities in them towards a healthy Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We have to keep our eyes on the ball. The fact that they (the school) have challenges means that we need to give them attention for the sake of these children of special needs. We need to make sure that the Ministry of Education also focuses on their needs. We have about 500 students here with various special needs that our government must continue to cater for,” the Governor told reporters on the sideline of presentation at the School for Special Needs in Oyun, Ilorin.
The bus donation built on what the school authorities called a sustained pattern of dedicated support the school has received from the governor since he was inaugurated in 2019.
The presentations drew applause and excitement from the students, teachers, and the Management of the schools.
The governor said the buses would aid their mobility and improve learning processes.
He added that his government would continue to engender necessary facilities that would make the learning environment more conducive for the students.
According to him, “This intervention is just additional. We have done most of what we needed to do before now. We have provided them with different learning aids and hearing machine, though we need to add more. They have requested additional street lights, which we catered for.
“They had also requested for transport and we gave them a new bus. We will make sure their solar system works better. We will continue to deepen our support for this institution and others.”
The Governor urged parents and guardians to always pray for and give their children the needed support to thrive, with particular reference to children with special needs.
At the Queens School, the governor pledged to look into some other pending challenges, including the perimeter fences around the school and their electricity.
He commended the vision of the founders of the school, saying: “we owe them a duty to keep the flag flying.”
Principals of the schools; Alhaji Abdulganiyi Olododo (School for Special Needs) and Alhaja Rashidat Oluwakemi Abdul (Queens School), in their separate remarks, commended the governor’s gesture and his previous efforts, and pleaded for more support.
Olododo described the vehicle as a memorable gift to the school.
“I cannot thank you enough for your fatherly love and support for this school. As far as this school is concerned, your work is everywhere, from classroom to clinic, hall, water, to street light,” he said.
Alhaja Abdul said the bus donation will address their lack of functional and befitting vehicle, thanking him for how his government continues to invest in the education sector.
President of the Old Students of Queen Elizabeth School, Dr Funke Opadokun, said she was happy with the governor’s style of governance and has always prayed for him to succeed.
She particularly pointed out the administration’s strides in the education and road sectors.