Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has donated a new 32-seater Toyota Coaster bus to the School for Special Needs Ilorin — the lone public secondary school dedicated to children in need of special education.

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 Governor also handed a new 32-seater Toyota Coaster bus to the Queen School Ilorin — the flagship girls-only school in the state.

Presented during separate visits to their premises on Tuesday, both gifts were a surprise anchored on earlier requests from the two schools.

The presentations drew applause and excitement from the students, teachers, and the management of the two schools.

Governor AbdulRazaq, who said the buses would aid their mobility and improve learning outcomes, assured them that his administration would continue to put in place necessary facilities that would make the learning environment more conducive for the students.

He said: “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.

“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 school 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.

“This is my first time meeting you, but I pray for you every day. I now look forward to riding on the many roads that you have done. I live in Adewole, and from Adewole to Tanke, it will take me only eight minutes now,” she said.

“I also saw the smart school at Adeta and others. I went there to dry Gari, and I had to go and turn. When I saw the structure, I asked the workers there who told me everything. For this and many others, I have since been praying that you will succeed by the special grace of God. We are so proud of what you are doing.”

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