The Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Femi Akinwumi, has flagged off the distribution of assistive technology materials worth over N70 million.
The materials, procured under the UBEC/SUBEB Special Needs Intervention Programme for 2020, 2021, and 2022, were distributed to three government-owned special schools and six selected private providers of special education in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Akinwumi avowed that the government will not relent in efforts aimed at mobilising and enlightening various stakeholders to ensure their commitment and participation in the special education delivery process.
Akinwumi, who was represented by SUBEB’s Director of Special Education, Mr Emmanuel Oluwayemi, stated that the partnership between the state government and UBEC has continued to yield positive results. He called on the principals of the benefiting schools to make judicious use of the equipment and items.
Mr Razaq Salami, the principal of the School of the Physically Challenged, Ido, expressed appreciation to UBEC and SUBEB for the gesture, pledging that the equipment would be properly utilised.
Items presented to the three government special schools include 10 Perkins Braille machines, 28 talking calculators, 78 abacuses, six customised laptop computers, 40 talking clocks, and 14 infrared physiotherapy lamps.
Others are 36 digital recorders, 14 wheelchairs, 29 walking frames, 24 crutches, 51 exercise Swiss Balls, 16 magnetic quantum analyzers, and 18 hearing aids.