My people, make I gist you one serious matter wey dey happen for our society! This one concern our children wey get disabilities. Mary Olanrewaju, wey be founder of Equal Education Chances (EEC), don come out sharply yarn say, no be pity dem need, na better pathways and opportunities!
Olanrewaju don dedicate her life to ensure say children with disabilities get the education and empowerment wey dem deserve. She talk say for plenty wahala spots for the world, these children dey struggle for visibility as dem dey always gather for corner dey receive the short end of the stick. For her own voice, she actually dey fight to bridge that gap.
Growing up for Nigeria, Mary see plenty things wey no sweet. One strong memory wey she no fit forget be the story of one girl wey get disability but dem no allow her learn vocational skills. Instead, dem just dey make her dey do house chores, and that one really touch Mary soul. Na that moment wey she decide say, ‘No! These children deserve beta!’ And so, EEC take off!
Since dem start, EEC don reach over 1,273 children. Dem dey provide inclusive learning, school feeding programs, vocational training, and even hygiene education. For the first time, plenty of these children dey experience wetin e mean to be valued and seen as part of the society!
For UK, their work dey include youth mental health programs, inclusive learning initiatives, and community empowerment projects. One major project wey dem dey run now na the Faith and Neurodiversity Project, wey dey help churches and youth groups to support and understand neurodiverse children and adults.
For Naija, EEC dey focus on areas wey no dey get enough resources. Dem dey operate for eight different schools for Lagos and Kano States, where children with disabilities dey face wahala like poverty, stigma, and dem dey excluded from normal education.
Dem don set up their programs for places like Igbehin-Adun Special School, Community Primary School Inclusive Unit, All Saints Primary School Inclusive Unit, and many more. Beyond just food and learning materials, EEC dey restore confidence, skills, and hope to these children.
One big area wey EEC dey push now na vocational empowerment. Young people dey train for different skills like tailoring, hairdressing, ICT, catering, and even creative arts! This na the type of pathways wey go help dem become independent and self-sufficient.
Dem don even launch one new initiative wey dem call The Bridge, wey dey aim to reach 50,000 teachers for Naija. This book go serve as both a practical guide and a movement wey go change system for our education sector. Plans dey on ground for big launch wey go involve government support.
The call wey EEC dey make to policymakers na clear one: make dem invest for inclusive education, fund early intervention, train teachers well, and partner with grassroots bodies wey dey deliver real impact.
As EEC dey move across borders, them dey show say when inclusion no be joke and opportunity dey show, children with disabilities no go just survive, dem go rise! Na so the matter be for our society and we go keep looking front to see wetin go happen next.
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