The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has called for stronger commitment to education and increased funding to ensure equal learning opportunities for all pupils, including those with disabilities.
He also said education should be seen by the government as a basic human right and the foundation for a more just and equal society, which implies adequate funding to meet the target goals and objectives of equalizing learning for all pupils, including those with disabilities.
The monarch stated this while playing host to the Governing Council members of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, led by its Chairperson, Ambassador Nihinlola Akanbi, at his private Boroboro residence in Oyo town on Thursday.
This was contained in a statement issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday.
The paramount ruler noted that special education prevents the waste of human potential by giving individuals with special needs the expert instruction and tailored tools they need to develop maximum independence and skills.
Alaafin said, “It prepares students with disabilities for vocational and career success, transitioning them into self-reliant workforce members who pay taxes and reduce dependency, and fosters an inclusive society that values human rights, reduces poverty, and honours the dignity of all citizens.
“Special education drives national development by transforming every citizen regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive ability into a valuable human resource who can actively contribute to the economy and society.
“Education is an important social service meant for everybody in the community, whether the person is able-bodied or suffers some disabilities, adding that it is a right for everybody, both young and old, to be educated because the purpose is for all to gain access to knowledge, skills and information that will prepare them to contribute to the development of their communities.”
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Special College of Education management, saying they were doing well and were friendly to the palace, and urged them to rededicate themselves to the progress and development of the institution as well as the challenges ahead.
Owoade assured that whatever the College Governing Council wanted him to do for the progress of the institution, he would not hesitate to do so.
“The only thing I will charge you for is performance. The College has all that is required of a university status, such as structures and human resources. What is now needed is the political backing and royal support,” he said.
Earlier, in her address, the Chairperson of the council, Ambassador Nihinlola Akanbi, who lauded the intellectual sagacity, support and cooperation of the Alaafin towards human resources and development of the college, described it as unprecedented.
Also, the Provost of the college, Dr Ademola Salami, commended the unrelenting role of the Alaafin in the progress of the institution in particular and the country as a whole.
The PUNCH reports that the college was established on October 5, 1977, as a Federal Advanced Teachers’ College (Special).
The institution, according to a UNDP/UNESCO 1996 report, has the best-qualified staff in Special Education not only in Nigeria but in West, North, East and Central Africa, and is the only one of its kind in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
It has the largest conglomeration of students with disabilities that could be found in any higher institution in Nigeria and the largest concentration of specialised facilities for teaching and training teachers of students with special needs in Nigeria.
