AUTHOR’S RESPONSE AT THE LAUNCH OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MR. ELIJAH A. AKINYEMI, THE DIRECTOR, SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION HELD AT VALLEYVIEW HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ISALE IGBEIN, ABEOKUTA ON THURSDAY, 7TH JUNE, 2018.
I am indeed grateful to His Excellency, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (CON, FCA) for this honour and venue to celebrate my life and achievements in the Civil Service and engine room of governance of Ogun State.
I appreciate members of the State Executive Council, my Lords (spiritual and temporal), serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, my colleagues on the field and those retired, representatives of the Roman Catholic Mission, the alumni and authorities of Pacelli School for Blind and Partially-sighted Children as well as that of Igbobi College, Yaba, my folks in Baale Akinosi and neighbouring communities, the families of Akinyemi-Adenle and Oguntade/Onifade kinship, all of you distinguished members of the Organising Committee who tirelessly organised this Book-Launch, friends, well-wishers, ladies and gentlemen for coming to dedicate the story of my life christened VISION BEYOND SIGHT to the glory of God, recognition and uplift of human growth and development.
I cannot forget my image makers in both the electronic and print media that have helped to polish this event for public acceptance in the past month or so.
Occasions like this cannot fail to touch a wave of memory given experiences that culminated in the documenting of the tribulations and travails of my life as a rehabilitated opportune blind individual pioneer of sort in Nigeria.
This book launched, I believe, shall serve as a compass for parents/guardians of persons with visual impairments/blindness. It will also be a beacon that the mission continues for teachers occupied with the education of the blind, administrators, and indeed, every member of the community interested in improving the lots of people with special needs.
I want to say it loud and clear that I’m proud of where nature has placed me. Though I cannot make use of the sense of sight, I have stretched, beyond expectation, the use of my other senses as compensation. To the glory of God, the full utilisation of these alternatives has enabled me to profit from adversities and overcome limiting challenges.
However, I will remain unrelenting and undaunted in my resolve to see that parents and relations, including the society generally no longer abuse and violate the rights of children with disabilities. The shameful era of maiming, killing, or locking up children and adolescents with disabilities must be over.
That I’m here and have broken the odds and crossed the hurdles, permit me Your Excellency, my Lords, (spiritual and temporal), distinguished ladies and gentlemen to acknowledge the duty and painstaking efforts of the one who sat and watched my infant head, when sleeping on my cradle bed, and tears of sweet affection shed – My mother! How I wished that death was as kind to my departed father who passed into eternal glory five years ago.
Nonetheless, my mother’s presence in our midst is yet another opportunity of nature’s kindness to me. I recognise and salute her patience and devotion that has translated into this handmade, woven social and psychological fabric that has in his little way contributed to bringing succour to the weak and the under-privileged in Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
Likened to an incomprehensible equation, I was born with all my senses intact. I was growing up normally, had hopes and optimism of excelling in life. Suddenly, without notice or negotiation, measles crept in to steal away my sight.
Fortunately, Western education and independent living skills without sight alleviated the dire setback by moulding me into a polished individual standing before you today. Family, community love and support, and the existence of opportunities coupled with perseverance, dogged determination, pragmatic assertiveness all helped in converting a hitherto hopeless situation into a new beginning of life.
My vessel set sail with no certainty and hope of getting to a safe destination for the future. This is why I remain eternally grateful to the Sisters of Charity of Ireland whose dedication and devotion resulted in the education par excellence provided by Pacelli School for Blind Children, Lagos, even till today. Their humanitarian foresight provided a great opportunity for me and other generations of blind children. Nevertheless, arriving at the sheltered harbour I find myself now was not attained on a bed of roses. Through the years, various challenges cropped up regularly. Some of these were:
(i) Curtailment of early childhood ties with parents, family and community as the result of early education and placement in boarding facilities at primary and post primary education settings with just three months break in the calendar year to be with my folks and community.
(ii) Inhibition in participation in sports, recreational skills, science and technical know-hows and occupations.
(iii) Inadequate/scarcity of specialized equipment, resource personnel, instructional materials and other educational ancillary support at the post-primary education level.
(iv) Limited job mobility and subtle unequal treatment borne by sheer ignorance, bigotry, stereotyping, misconceptions and generalisations of disabilities and the potency of education and rehabilitation, among many others.
As in my case, the disability of blindness could have been reduced through prevention or better management of diseases which were lacking in my growing years in the community I was born into. Sadly, at present, our public health care remains still seriously challenged. This makes the possibility of anyone being a victim of disabilities at any stage in life high.
Therefore, it is foolhardy for any individual to stigmatise or deny equal rights and opportunities to a fellowman on the sole account of the unforeseen circumstances the individual may find himself or herself.
It is very important that we need to take care of our eyes, nose, ears, tongue and limbs, indeed, every part of our body as they are important to our full and total functioning.
In this perspective, it becomes pertinent to draw the attention of our youths to the serious damages brought about by drug abuse. I urge you the future builders of our society to please refrain from the consumption or abuse of illicit drugs that could bring about harm to your quality of life. Remember, it is cheaper and better to be cautious than to hope for a cure that may never be found.
There is time for everything. A time to be born and a time to die. About thirty years ago, I was appointed into the Ogun State Civil Service as a fledgling Officer and deployed to the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education to serve my kind! I rose through the ranks to the esteemed status of Director of Education in January, 2010. I have, to the best of my abilities, by evolving policies and programmes for the betterment of the physical, health, emotional and competitive spirit of persons with special needs transformed Special Needs Education in Ogun State From humble beginnings as a Unit to a full-fledged department of internationally-accepted standard.
Though they will be sorely missed, the moment is at hand to bid farewell to my principals and senior colleagues, particularly the renowned economist and banker, the Honourable State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sefiu Rasheed, members of the Management and all of you wonderful men and women with whom we sweated together to deliver the actualization of the Affordable and Quality Education Agenda of the present Administration of Ogun State, under the leadership of our amiable father, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, (CON, FCA).
I cannot forget all my dedicated Special Needs Educators and staff who toiled hard to formulate and execute policies and programmes for the meaningful living of our Special Needs children.
I appreciate your efforts and urge you all to keep the banner flying. It is the most difficult task to say goodbye to you my amiable friends and colleagues cut across the State Civil Service.
I shall always remember all the several wonderful parents and clients I met throughout my career. Be rest assured that my heart remains open to you always. Even, in retirement from public service, I will still be at your service.
As the adage goes: ‘He who wears the shoe, knows where it pinches the most’. I have worn the shoe and can authoritatively lay credence to the fact that the burden of a disability on any person with a disability, despite the several mitigating challenges that may be noticeable is overweighed significantly by negative attitudes, the stigmatisation, discrimination, abuse and violations perpetrated on the unfortunate individual by a misinformed society.
Our available human and capital endowments can serve us in the building of a true inclusive society for the co-existence of all and sundry without denials. To this end, my parting gifts for each and every one seated here today are as follows:
(i) Disabilities are resultant effects of diseases and circumstances of birth or accidents. They are by no means contagious or infectious.
(ii) Moreover, disabilities are not curses or retributions for sins. Therefore, the joint effort of all is required to limit the adverse consequences of disabilities and evolve correct and appropriate methods of educating and rehabilitating people with disabilities.
(ii) It is morally unjust and inhumane to treat persons with disabilities with disdain, or as objects of pity, ridicule and exploitation. Concerted effort is needed to enforce the inalienable rights, privileges and responsibilities of all persons.
(iii) The support of the electronic and print media, motor park operators, market men and women, religious and community leaders must be co-opted in order to draw-up educative and enlightenment programmes of the general public in disability-related matters.
(iv) While seizing this opportunity to appreciate the illustrious sons and daughters of the State, particularly, our royal fathers, members of the Federation of Disabilities Platform (FODPLAT) and the Eighth Legislature of the Ogun State House of Assembly for the unprecedented passage of the Disability Law on 16th November, 2017, I seek the support of all levels of Government, communities and organisations to put in place the necessary instruments and machinery for the implementation of the Law.
(v) The funding of programmes for persons with disabilities is enormous and government cannot shoulder the burden alone. Therefore, individuals, organizations and groups must come together to complement the efforts of government in making life meaningful for all and sundry regardless of diversity.
(vi) The building of an accepting and tolerant society that will avail equal opportunities in business, employment and social activities for mankind is what I advocate for and consider necessary as we move on as a people and country in our historical experience.
(vii) The creation of an enabling environment to harness and utilise the hidden potentials, abilities and talents of all persons regardless of circumstances or deviations is a good pedestal for nation-building.
(viii) The eradication of the dastardly acts of abuse, abandonment, maiming and outright killing of children with disabilities by callous parents, guardians and unscrupulous members of the public should cease. There should be synergy among all the stakeholders involved in the health care, education and welfare of persons with special needs, especially in maximizing existing resources to the fullest.
(ix) Pampering, overprotection and preferential treatment excluding Special Needs Children from performing chores within and outside the home should be discouraged to the barest minimum.
(x) Spouses, family members, parents and guardians of children with disabilities should come together to form advocacy and pressure groups to champion employment and accessibility rights, privileges and opportunities for those in my group.
(xi) Like the regular child, a child with disability has the right of expression and deserves to be listened to. There must be parental involvement in decision-making pertaining to the child. At work and play, the hidden abilities and potentials of the child with disability must be tapped to the fullest allowing him/her to be a credence of a positive role model and an ambassador worthy of emulation.
(xii) Without pain, success can never be attained! Therefore, persons with disabilities must disengage from all anti-social and delinquent behaviours that could be inimical to their adjustment and living in the mainstream of the society. It is a setback to feed on the crumbs lying or falling from the “master’s” table. Rather, learn to cook and dish food unto your plate set on the table alongside that of others.
(xiii) The coming together of persons with disabilities to form advocacy and pressure groups is an essentiality that must never be compromised. In unity of purpose, the enabling path for the true acceptance, integration and normalization of persons with disabilities in politics, education, personal and group decision-making would be created, nurtured and attained.
(xiv) It is very important that children with disabilities are brought up in the right atmosphere that encourages and teaches total independence, self-actualization and economic emancipation. Therefore, independent life-coping-and-adjustment mechanisms coupled with vocational skills and avocations have to be inculcated in the school curriculum from the on start.
In conclusion, I urge each and every one of us at this book-launch to co-opt a friend, a neighbour and our family members to contribute conscientiously toward the project of making life better for our persons with auditory, visual, motor and intellectual challenges. I am a living testimony of money well spent in saving a soul. There are still several more of our brothers, sisters and fellow citizens like me wasting away as a result of neglect and lack of knowledge in the fringes, nooks and crannies of our great State and country.
The Five Ogun State Special Primary Schools and Eight Co-operating Secondary Schools beg for your moral and financial attention. In your spare moments, you can share time to fellowship with the pupils. Their disabilities are no contagious diseases that can harm you. Furthermore, by acquiring the necessary basic communication skills, you can express true love to your neighbour by extending the frontiers of inclusion and accessibility of people with special needs. The possibilities are service as interpreters for those of them with auditory challenges or as readers, and, even as mobility guides and braillists for the visually-challenged.
Our financial institutions should open opportunities of credit facilities that will be friendly toward creative and dynamic special needs persons for gainful self-employment, entrepreneurship and nation-building.
Government for now is the main employer of labour of persons with disabilities. This ought to change for a brighter future with the granting of tax rebates and incentives for industries, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and organisations that provide employment and other socio-welfare opportunities for these under-privileged Nigerians.
Finally, I owe a debt of gratitude to my wife and children for their unreserved co-operation and support throughout my years of commitment to the people and Government of Ogun State. I acknowledge the efforts of the Committee of Friends and support made up of Mrs. Modupe Mujota, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Kunle Taiwo, Mrs. O.O. Idowu, Barrister Matthew Olaiya, Mr. Idowu Adeniji, Mr. Daniel Akintola Mrs. A.O.A. Akinsanya, Mr. Gbenga Gbesan and the many others who contributed toward the success of the authoring of my autobiography and its launch. I got into the Senior Cadre of the Civil Service of Ogun State as a lone wolf in the wilderness. I am bowing out with my head raised high and with a deep sense of satisfaction that the torch I lit provided illumination in the path of hundreds of my kind who have since found their ways into the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Ogun State public/civil service.
My people, you ought not to be surprised. My success is the jackpot of the bet that you all kind-hearted persons and institutions placed years back. I refer to you the authorities and teachers of Pacelli School for Blind and Partially-sighted Children; the Principal and teachers of Igbobi College, the Shell British Petroleum that gave me scholarship for post primary education, and of course, the Government and tax payers of Ogun State that raised my hopes for tertiary education and employment. Today is also the testaments of the good times, knowledge and education invested in me by the numerous Directors, Permanent Secretaries and Honourable State Commissioners that had sharpened my skills and tutor me on the intricacies of being a good civil servant. The incentives that you have given to me will remain my pillars of strength in the future endeavours of life. I wish I had better dividends than my hearty “Thanks” to distribute to you all. Nonetheless, be rest assured that I will not desert or desire not to volunteer my time, talents and treasures towards the improvement of the life and conditions of people with special needs. Whatever the capacity, wherever the call comes from, whoever be it, governmental or non-governmental, as long as the aim is to work for the inclusion of all and sundry in the mainstream of our society, I am available. I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life. Most humbly and deeply, I appreciate you all. You are very wonderful and jolly good fellows! I thank you all for coming and wish you journey mercies on your return to your various destinations.
Many thanks, God bless and happy reading of VISION BEYOND SIGHT!
