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Pacelli graduates fresh students

By Tobi Awodipe and Ruth Adekunle
16 July 2016   |   1:38 am
It was an outpouring of emotion and creativity at graduating ceremony and creative art exhibition of the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children, held recently in their Surulere, Lagos compound.
From left to right: Chairman of the occasion, Shina Abiola-Peller, Headboy of the school, Principal, Rev. Sr. Jane Onyeneri; Monsignor Bernard Okodua and headgirl of the school during their graduation…recently

From left to right: Chairman of the occasion, Shina Abiola-Peller, Headboy of the school, Principal, Rev. Sr. Jane Onyeneri; Monsignor Bernard Okodua and headgirl of the school during their graduation…recently

Tasks Government On Subvention
It was an outpouring of emotion and creativity at graduating ceremony and creative art exhibition of the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children, held recently in their Surulere, Lagos compound.

The school, which is being managed by reverend sisters of the Handmaids of The Holy Child Jesus, rolled out the drums to celebrate the passing out of their primary six students. The graduation ceremony also featured a special exhibition of handcrafts produced by the students and was also used as a platform to solicit donations from Nigerians to keep the non-fee paying school, which has groomed notable individuals such as Cobhams Asuquo, going amid harsh economy.

The celebration started with the Holy mass offered by Very Rev Monsignor Bernard Okodua, Vicar of Mainland Deanery, who felt a mixture of sorrow, admiration and sympathy for the students.

The mass was followed by a reception held in the school Hall, where Mrs Ronke Soyombo, the Director General of Quality Assurance, office of Education, Ministry of Education, who represented the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr (Mrs) Idiat Oluranti Adebule, commended the efforts of the school’s administration is training the students.

She reiterated that the state government’s policy on education remains all-inclusive, adding that Lagos State would continue to ensure that all pupils with multi-dimensional challenges remain exposed to the same opportunities, while assisting them attain their desired goals.

Reassuring the school’s management that the state government remained a staunch stakeholder of the school, Soyombo informed that the government plans to build more schools to accommodate children living with disabilities in the state.

In her welcome address, the principal of the school Sr. Jane Onyeneri congratulated the grandaunts, some of who, according to her, scored a 100% and 95% in the recently concluded National Examinations (NECO) and the Lagos State Examination respectively, earning spots in several prestigious federal and state schools such as Kings and Queens Colleges, Federal Government Schools and Lagos State Model College, Ikorodu.

Lauding the achievements and progress recorded by the school in the last one year, Onyeneri lamented poor funding of the facility, which hinders the smooth running of the school.She noted that the school depends on donations from parishes, churches, corporate bodies and individuals to survive and when such donations don’t come in as expected, salaries are stalled and operations grind to a halt.

She further stated that subventions that used to come from the federal government stopped suddenly without explanations, while the state government had abandoned them to their fate since seven years ago.

“Nothing has come from any arm of the government to the school in seven years,” she frowned.She therefore called on kindhearted Nigerians to come to their rescue, as the school suffers constant flooding, delay in payment of salaries, lacks a bus and generator to power the school.

“Since the donations don’t come as when expected, it delays the implementation of some of our projects. Since our country is facing a lot of economic crisis, donations have been slow but we thank our benefactors and friends, who have not relented in contributing to the development of the school. This has enabled us to pay the salaries of our staff regularly. We thank God and pray that he will continue to shower his blessings on you,” she said.

The chairman of the occasion and Head of Aquila Group, Shina Abiola-Peller, commended the efforts of the school management and promised to support them in every way possible. He also made a cash donation of N250, 000, and also granted scholarship to two of the best graduating students to further their education.

The event rounded up with an amazing art and craft display by the students, where they had variety of items up for sale ranging from tie and dye materials to key holders, table mats, flower vases, belts, tissue boxes and slippers all hand made by them.

Meanwhile, the students were not left out in the fun as they thrilled their parents, friends and well-wishers to beautiful cultural dance, music and comedy performances. Seeing the students perform, no one would call them disabled as they performed excellently to the delight of all the audience.

The graduating students were presented with a backpack containing a guide cane, braille and typewriter, as well as an award scroll. One of the students, who spoke to The Guardian, Omoaka Latifat said, “I feel very happy and grateful. I gained admission into Model College, Ikorodu on merit. When I started here in Pacelli, I thought it would be a struggle, but it has been very easy for me. I’ve spent seven years here and I think I’m ready to move on to the next age.” On her advice other physically challenged people, she said, “they shouldn’t give up. Continue striving in whatever you do, no matter how difficult it may seem.”

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