The widow of former Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief (Mrs.) Oluwakemi Alao-Akala, urged Nigerians on Tuesday to support persons with disabilities, stressing that physical impairment should not be equated with inability.
She made the appeal during a visit to the Nigeria Training Centre for the Blind and the Oyo State Special Basic School in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, where she donated food items and essential supplies to visually impaired pupils. Items distributed included bags of rice, beans and maize, kegs of palm oil, spaghetti, sanitary pads, toiletries, typing sheets, and cardboard materials for learning.
Alao-Akala described the gesture as part of her routine monthly outreach to vulnerable groups. “I do things like this every month. I just like to make life a little easier for people,” she said, noting that the schools had submitted a list of their pressing needs. She also disclosed plans to provide uniforms for the pupils after taking measurements.
Reflecting on her late husband’s years in public office, she emphasized the importance of accountability in leadership. “Whatever position we find ourselves in, at the end of the day, we are going to be accountable. God will ask us, what did you do when you were there?” she said. She also prayed for political leaders and encouraged Nigerians to support them through prayers.
Alao-Akala addressed the pupils, encouraging them to remain confident and positive about their future. “They should confess positively about their situation. There is power in the tongue. When you speak positively, it works,” she said.
The Headmistress of Oyo State Special Basic School, Mrs. Oyedokun Janet Olabimpe, appealed to the state government for increased funding to adequately cater for the school’s 82 primary pupils, many of whom live in boarding facilities. “The money given to us cannot cover everything. Whenever we have little projects to execute, we still have to withdraw from the same allocation,” she said.
A special educator at the school, Mr. Ogunleke Simeon, said the institution, which runs primary, secondary, and vocational programs, trains visually impaired students in Braille literacy, typing, computer usage, and mobility skills. “Our main objective is to train the visually impaired on how to read and write in Braille, type, use computers and navigate their environment safely,” he said, adding that some former students have obtained advanced degrees and built successful careers.
Ogunleke lamented the high cost of specialized materials such as Braille machines, guide canes, and talking computer software, as well as an abandoned three-classroom block left uncompleted for about 15 years. On feeding, he said the state government provides N300 per child daily for three meals, noting that additional support from philanthropists is needed.
The Nigeria Training Centre for the Blind and the Oyo State Special Basic School are among the few public institutions in the South-West dedicated to educating and training visually impaired children, but they continue to face challenges including inadequate funding, shortages of specialized equipment, and rising operational costs.
