Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday made a personal donation of the sum of N4 million to the three special schools in the state and a rehabilitation centre to mark his 56th birthday.
The governor also donated 40 bags of rice, 40 bags of beans, 40 cartons of vegetable oil, 40 cartons of noodles, 40 cartons of spaghetti, 200 tubers of yams to the special schools, in fulfilment of his promise to mark his birthday with donations to the students of the special schools.
The donations were made on his behalf by his wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, at a brief event held at the Osuntokun Pavillion, Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
The four benefiting special institutions are School for the Blind, Ikere-Ekiti; School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti; School for the Physically Challenged, Ido-Ekiti and the State Rehabilitation Home, Ado-Ekiti with each of them getting N1million from the governor.
Members of the State Executive Council also donated the sum of N500,000 to the benefiting schools.
Many of the governor’s friends and associates have also sent donations to the schools.
Speaking shortly before making the donation on behalf of her husband, Dr. Oyebanji said the governor was identifying with the special schools in order to put smiles on the faces of the students and add value to their lives.
The First Lady said her husband did not believe in elaborate and lavish celebration and had instituted the policy of celebrating his birthday at special schools and donating cash and materials to them to remember the less privileged.
She said: “You will recall that the Governor during his birthday last year celebrated at the special schools and directed exco members, his friends and well wishers that want to celebrate with him to donate to the special schools.
“Our exco members have gone to those schools, I have also gone to the schools to celebrate. I want to urge the authorities of the schools to be prudent with what they are getting. People have been donating to these schools and there is need for proper accountability of the donations received.”
The First Lady who was joined by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro and other members of the State Executive Council shared the joy of the day with the students of the special schools by singing and dancing with them.
The appreciative students prayed for long life, good health and success in administering the state for Governor Oyebanji.
Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, noted that Oyebanji was changing the mindset of lavish celebration of milestones to somber celebration with the less privileged.
Oyebode added that in remembering the less privileged, the governor had laid examples for privileged individuals to reach out to the special schools, noting that donations received would change the face of the schools and make life easier for the special students.
He said: “Instead of spending huge amount of money on organizing his birthday party or on gifts , the Governor said such money should be converted to donation to the special schools to improve the welfare of the students.”
