The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, on Thursday, donated to state owned special schools and orphanage to mark her 65th birthday, urging Nigerian leaders and wealthy individuals to make positive impacts in the lives of the vulnerable groups to build a society that is stable and egalitarian.
Rather than oppressing and alienating the vulnerables, Mrs Afuye, warned Nigerians to deploy their resources to palliate the sufferings of the poor masses, describing this as the remedial step against inequality and way to bridge the gap between the rich and poor.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Media Aide, Victor Ogunje, said this in Ikere ,Ikoro and Ido Ekiti, while making donations to the less privileged to mark her birthday.
Places visited include: Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti, Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home, Iyin Ekiti, Government Special School for the Dumb, Ikoro Ekiti and the Government Special School, Ido Ekiti.
Materials donated are: Bags of rice, bags of beans, confectionaries, children’s wears, bedspread, cash gifts, other food items, among others.
Addressing her hosts in all the places visited, the Deputy Governor, stressed that adding value to the lives of the underprivileged should be the priority of those in strategic and influential positions, either in the public or private sectors .
Mrs Afuye said her principal, Governor Biodun Oyebanji demonstrated such gesture when he instructed all his admirers to always donate to the less privileged to mark his birthdays as a governor, instead of presenting multimillion naira gifts or expending huge sums on adverts in the media.
She stated that Governor Oyebanji’s humility and passion for the less privileged spurred her to make the donations to give the children a strong sense of belonging and to demonstrate that they are not second class citizens .
The Deputy Governor assured the children that the governor will continue to accord them respect and place high premium on their welfare.
“The fact that you are physically challenged doesn’t mean you can’t be governors or deputy governors in future. You could see that Governor Oyebanji has been prioritising your welfare and this will continue because we don’t consider you as second class citizens.
“As part of the policy of this government, certain percentage has been allotted to those living with disabilities in appointment and employment opportunities. The governor has been implementing this stringently without bias or laxity.
“There is also equal opportunities law and the Gender Based Violence Law to protect you against any form of discrimination and oppression. My principal will never joke or lenient with the application of these laws designed to protect you against discriminations.
“Let me say this clear and loud, as long as Governor Oyebanji remains the governor, nobody will be allowed to abridge your rights or treat you shabbily”.
Speaking further, Mrs Afuye posited that giving to the less privileged like poor widows, physically challenged and orphans always give her joy, instead of throwing big party that would only be attended by high and mighty in the society.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education, Mrs Adetoun Agboola, who accompanied Mrs Afuye to the venues, saluted the generosity of the Deputy Governor, saying it will a long way in motivating the students to dream big ahead of the future.
Mrs Agboola appealed to the children to dream big and be rest assured that their lives can still blossom in spite of their challenges, saying things are fast looking up for those in this category on account of the love and passion Governor Oyebanji has to better their lives.
“If you look around the world, several physically challenged people are now holding strong positions in government and private organisations. Things are fast changing, so I want you to dream big and have that assurance that your future will be rewarding and bright”.
The Principal of the special schools, Ikere Ekiti , Mrs Kikelomo Okeya and her counterpart in Ikoro Ekiti Special School for the Dumb, Mrs Olayide Adu, appreciated the Deputy Governor for her humility and for fraternising with the students despite their challenges.
They said such humble disposition would propel the students to aim higher and bury the impression that they are neither recognised not relevant in the society.