A former Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ondo State, Alhaji Deji Aiyelabowo, has donated solar street lights, foodstuffs and cash gifts to pupils of School for the Deaf in Ikoro-Ekiti.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the donations were donated by Aiyelabowo to mark his 75th birthday.
Aiyelabowo, also a former Director of Information Services and General Manager of Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State, told the NAN in Ikoro-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area, that his choice of the school was because of his love for children, particularly the less-priviledged.
READ ALSO: Ondo Election: Foundation urges proactive security measures to mitigate violence
NAN also reports that the items donated to the special school included: beverages, cash gifts and solar street lights to lighten up the school premises.
“My love for the special school, aside that it is located in my town, started when I had the opportunity to drive through the school one night and I realised that everywhere was in total darkness.
“Yes, the students are physically-challenged, but, at least, they can see, and when I also realised that government alone cannot provide all their needs, I decided to support government in my own little way.
“On my own, it is a call I have from God that I must reach out, particularly to the less-privileged and I have to follow the scripture which tells us to show compassion to humanity.
“I am what I am today by the mercy of Allah and this is why I am committed to helping the less-privileged ones in my community and the society at large,” he said.
According to him, disability is nothing, as the children were created by God, adding: “They are unique and must be treated as such by the society at large.
“Integration and equal rights should not be denied; they are disabled, which means they are there already. We think we are normal but the truth is: we are more disabled than these children.
“I thank God for this vision and my unquenchable thirst for loving, caring, working, walking, wining and dining with these society rejects. They are my treasure.”
While calling on kind-hearted individuals to give more attention to less-privileged institutions, as applicable in the civilised world.
The event, attended by friends, well-wishers and staff members of the school, was followed by a thanksgiving programme at Ikoro-Ekiti Central Mosque where the celebrator made a handsome cash donation, with support from other dignitaries.
NAN reports that the items were presented to the school by the wife of the celebrator, Deaconess Modupe Aiyelabowo, on behalf of her husband.
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Bursar, Mr Dele Ojo, thanked Aiyelabowo for his kind gesture and prayed God to grant him good health and long life to eat the fruits of his labour.
At the mosque, Aiyelabowo thanked Allah for preserving his life with good health to help the less-privileged around him.
Chief Iman of the mosque, Alhaji Olayinka Azeez, described Aiyelabowo as a kind-hearted man who loves giving and caring for the less-privileged.
He advised Nigerians, especially wealthy individuals in the community, to give priority to giving to the less-privileged and supporting things of Allah.
NAN reports that Aiyelabowo started his career in the old Ondo State Ministry of Information in 1980 and rose to the position of Director of Information Services in Ekiti.
He was later appointed the General Manager of Ekiti Broadcasting Service and acted as permanent secretary in the ministry of information before retiring in 2010.
