Benin – Network for Advancement of Persons with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID) has renovated a special educational unit at Ihogbe College in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
NAPVID replaced the unit’s staff and class rooms doors, windows, repainted the classrooms and constructed burglary proofs, hand rails, ramp and step cases to aid easy access to the facility.
The group during a brief ceremony on Thursday, handed over the building to the ministry of education.
They also donated to the special typewriters, braille sheets, typing sheets, printing machine, slates and stylus to the unit.
Speaking during the event, the network’s executive director, Melody Omosah specially appealed for deployment of operatives of the state security network to special schools to protect the facilities.
Omosah who maintained that NAPVID has been partnering the government to promote inclusive education in the state explained that the group is not into renovation but acted in response to request made by management of the college for “certain facilities” at the unit.
“It’s not the call of NAPVID to so do; what we do is provide materials, assist challenge students to go through school by meeting their needs, paying their fees.
“we have a hostel that’s running the quite a number of challenge students in this school are accommodated. We pay their fees, and provide materials, but what’s the point you provide all of these and they do not have a conductive learning environment?”, Omosah stressed in his remarks
Commissioner for education, Mrs Joan Oviawe commended NAPVID for the collaboration with government in advancing the interests of special persons in the state.
“I want to assure you that the request you have just made, I will take your message down to the commissioner; and with the help of God, I believe everything will be taken care of. The toilet, the light (electricity) as well; the governor love this children (students) very very well”, The commissioner, represented by a Special Adviser in the ministry, Mary Oseghale assured
