2021 Children Day: Dr Oni Gbolabo Revives The Hope Of The Physically Challenged In Osun

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

As Nigeria joins the world to mark the 2021 Children’s Day on May 27, Dr Gbolabo Oni has advocated proper focus on children with special needs in the country.

Dr Oni made the call while presenting gift items to the students of Ijesha School of Special Needs, Ilesa, where he said the government ought to collaborate with nongovernmental organizations and philanthropists to aggressively enlighten families and individuals across the country on the need to accept and cater for children with special needs.

He had earlier hired nurses for students with special needs to cater for them said he did the little he could with the support of some of his friends.

Apart from the nurses he hired for the students, Dr Oni through his friends from home and in the diaspora also distributed school uniforms, instructional materials, beds, cash among other gifts to the students.

He also repaired the school windows. He donated boreholes and pumping machines, just as he built toilets and bathrooms, among other projects he carried out in the school.

He explained that there was the need for all well meaning Nigerians to support the children with special needs so as to make life better for them.

Dr Oni however appreciated his friends who had contributed financially for the realisation of the projects.

He said: “I have been involved in sensitization on accepting children with special needs, and will step it up to cover more areas.

“I want enjoin all classes of people including those at the grassroots on the conditions of children in order to demystify the concept of special needs.

“ I am advocating for policy change in the areas of health care, education and others. I believe children and young people living with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, visual impairment, epilepsy, dyslexia, and others. I believe they should be accepted, cared for, educated and not stigmatized”. He said.

“I want to appreciate my friends both home and in the diaspora for thier contributions to the realisation of this projects. I believe with their continual support more will surely surface in a couple of days.”

Speaking on behalf of students and school management, Aluko Temitope appreciated Dr Oni and his friends for their good gesture, praying God almighty to continue to bless them.

He used the occasion to urged other influential citizens on the need to emulate the good gusture of Dr Oni saying by so doing they would be useful to the society.

“I want to on behalf of my colleagues and management of this school appreciate all donors who had in many ways contributed to the financing of most of this projects.

“Dr. Oni Gbolabo has shown a rare degree of selflessness because despite not been engaged by any institution he still places the welfare of others ahead of himself.

“We opin that his kind will obviously make Impact of he finds himself in place of authority.”, he said.