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Iyeru Okin School for Special Needs, Offa, Kwara State, has received twenty Marburgs slates, styluses and braille papers, to aid teaching and learning of visually impaired students.
The donation which is worth over three hundred thousand naira, was made by a socio-cultural group, Offa Professional Ladies Forum, OPLAF.
A delegation of the association led by its President, Prof (Mrs) Omotayo Adesiyun, and immediate past President and Project Coordinator Prof (Mrs) Nike Sidiqat Ijaiya presented the materials to the management of school after a tour of its facilities.
Addressing staff and students of the school, Prof Adesiyun explained that the materials would improve the writing skills of visually impaired students and their abilities to partake in examinations including WAEC and JAMB.
She implored the students not to relent in their pursuit for academic excellence or let go of their dreams, pointing out that with quality education, they would break barriers and attain greater heights like their counterparts.
Contributing, immediate past President of OPLAF and Project Coordinator, Prof (Mrs) Nike Sidiqat Ijaiya assured staff and students that government would soon come to their aid and urged them to complement the association’s efforts by being studious and dedicated to academic activities.
The Chairman, Offa Descendants Union, ODU, Offa branch , Alhaji Lanre Shittu also appreciated OPLAF and promised to contribute his quota to the development of the school.
In a response, the head teacher of the school, Mrs Monsurat Olajumoke Rotimi appreciated the association for their support over the years and assured them that the equipment would be well utilized.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Offa Local Government, Alhaji Suleimon Olatunji Omituntun has promised to address some of the challenges identified at the Iyeru Okin School for Special Needs, Offa.
Alhaji Olatunji Omituntun made the promise when he received a delegation of the Offa Professional Ladies Forum, OPLAF in his office.
Earlier, the President of OPLAF, Prof (Mrs) Omotayo Adesiyun, informed the Chairman that the association was established to assist young persons in Offa and Kwara State to succeed in their various fields of endeavors, particularly in the area of education.
Prof Adesiyun listed some of the achievements of the association to include payment of JAMB and WAEC fees of some students; purchase of chemistry and physics laboratory apparatus and chemicals for Offa Community Secondary School; donation of library furniture and book shelves worth one million naira for two secondary schools; and scholarships for two Offa daughters at University of Ilorin.
She listed some of the interventions at the school to include publicity for the school to attract government attention, purchase of seven walking sticks and abacus for blind students, payment of thirty thousand naira monthly salaries of three blind and hearing impaired teachers, donation of special books and clearing of the bushes within the school premises.
Prof Adesiyun appealed to the State Government to improve security around the school area, deploy more teachers to the school, employ teachers already providing services in the school, provide school bus to encourage more enrollment, and construct hostel facilities.
Contributing, immediate past President of OPLAF, and Project Coordinator, Prof (Mrs) Nike Sidiqat Ijaiya, said some challenges of the school such as truancy amongst the students could be checked if government provide hostel facilities to ease transportation expenses of parents and accommodate students who come neighboring communities.
She emphasized the need to curb school dropouts and improve quality of education in Offa, Kwara State and Nigeria. .
The OPLAF delegation included the Pioneer President, Dr FM Rejuaro; Vice President, Hajia Sariyu Oloyede; Deputy Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr MB Aliyu; and Secretary of the association, Dr Ikeola Olatinwo.
The Offa Professional Ladies Forum, OPLAF was founded in 2017 and has one hundred and fourteen members, home and abroad.
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