The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has implored parents of children with special needs not to confine or deprive such kids of their liberty, saying they are gifts from God.
Makinde gave the advice on Friday when she hosted children from 15 special homes and orphanages across the state to commemorate the nation’s 61st Independence Day celebration at Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.
According to her, parents with disabled kids should know that it is God that gave them, God knows us and there is no way God will give us something that we can not bear.
“If God give you such a child, take it, don’t run away from your parenting care, do what you can do within your limit, reach out to the community and look out for help.
“Do not lock them up, go to some of the centres that have physically challenged children, see how you can partner with them and your kids can go in with them sometimes.
“So that such a child will see people like him/her, then, take them back home and embrace them to know that they are loved,” she advised.
The Oyo first lady said that celebrating and giving gifts to children from the special care homes and orphanages “is in the spirit of the Independence Day celebration.
“This is the norm for the state, for us to gather together to celebrate the Independence day by given to special care homes.
“We celebrate with them because some of these children can not go to the stadium because of their respective physical challenges and special conditions.
“So we made them to feel that they are loved and that they are not left behind in the spirit of the celebration,” she said.
She commended and appreciated the caregivers for their dedication in caring for the special children and urged them not to relent in their service to humanity.
“The caregivers should know that their reward is beyond them, it will live with their unborn generation, God will give back to them in the way that they won’t understand, God will open ways beyond their imagination.
“God will hear their prayers because of giving their time and love to the handicapped, the less privileged, the ones that can not talk, see and the ones that were abandoned,” Mr Makinde said.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Christiana Abioye, said that Makinde’s administration had proved to be exemplary in caring for its citizens in the state.
Abioye noted that the governor’s passion for the care and protection of vulnerable group of people and emancipation of the women folks in the state was second to none.
She appreciated the wife of the governor for hosting the children from the various special homes and orphanages in the state.
She said the celebration with the special children would definitely make them feel loved like every other person.
She further commended Mrs Makinde for being a strong pillar supporting the vulnerable group of people and the citizens of Oyo state in general.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that food items, essential drugs, toiletries, diapers, detergents and cash, among other gifts, were distributed to the special homes and orphanages that were present at the event.
Among the special homes and orphanages are Child Care Unit, Ijokodo Ibadan; Nigerian Training Centre for the Blind, Ogbomosho; Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Moniya Ibadan and Safe Harbour Baptist Children Home, Ogbomosho.(NAN)
