DEPOWA Visits School For The Deaf Kuje, FCT Abuja
G. O. Samuel
The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), on Wednesday, March 4th, 2019, paid a humanitarian visit to the school for the deaf, located in Kuje, Abuja, Nigeria.
The visit to the students and staff of the school, was part of activities to mark the DEPOWA Week 2019 with the theme, “Building the Nation”.
Speaking at the event, the President, DEPOWA, Mrs Omobolanle Olonisakin, who noted that the children are very smart and intelligent, said that DEPOWA paid the visit to encourage and show them love .
She commended the members of staff for taking care of the children and training them to be useful citizens, and urged them to remain committed to their duty as there is always a reward for good deed.
Olonisakin, enjoined the children to be well behaved as they take steps to achieve their objectives, and admonished them not to copy bad examples but to always be good children that their parents and teachers can be proud of.
According to her, “It is important for you to copy good examples. DEPOWA is committed to assisting you to navigate the terrain of life. We will continue our advocacy campaign against criminal and social vices.
“We will continue to emphasize the need for youth to understand that their future and that of the nation are in their hands and to prepare themselves for participation in national development”, she remarked.
While noting that government alone cannot meet societal needs, she implored parents and Civil Society Organisations to join hands with government to solidify relationships and to promote societal goals.
Responding, the Principal, Mr. Onoja John, disclosed that the school which started in 1991 and presently has 630 students, caters for children with hearing impairment and speech disorder.
He stated that the visit of the DEPOWA to the school will make the the children feel loved.
John, who was represented by the Assistant Vice Principal, Mrs Goodness Johnson, decried the epileptic electricity supply in the area and urged DEPOWA to assist in providing generator sets to power the environment and ease communication at night.
“Electricity supply is epileptic and communication at night becomes difficult as sign languages are involved. These children can’t talk and the only means of communication is through sign language and when it is dark they cannot communicate”, the Principal stated.
DEPOWA presented several gifts to the children such as; hair dryers, clippers, sewing machines, foams, detergents, beverages, rice and other food items to make the children comfortable and to empower them.
The School for the deaf Kuje, is a full boarding government school funded by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB). It runs similar curriculum with other schools but uses sign language.
