The Ekiti State Government has donated hearing aids worth N12 million to four schoolchildren and one adult living with hearing impairments.
This was part of the state’s commitment to social inclusion and improved healthcare for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
The presentation ceremony was held at the Ekiti State Skills Acquisition Centre in Ilokun, Ado Ekiti.
The Special Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Adetoun Agboola, said the devices were distributed after a pilot study involving 70 individuals with hearing challenges.
She added that the recipients were selected after assessments confirmed their capacity to benefit from the devices.
“Instead of sending them to the School for the Deaf, we decided to amplify their hearing, even though it comes at a cost. The governor is interested in improving their quality of life,” she said.
Agboola also urged parents to prioritise early diagnosis of hearing and vision issues in children, noting that academic performance is closely linked to proper sensory development.
She praised Oyebanji for his support, highlighting his directive that children with disabilities be returned to school.
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The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Oyebanji Filani, represented by Charles Doherty, Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Filani described the intervention as “a lifeline to communication, education, and social inclusion.”
He added that the government remains committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially for vulnerable groups.
One of the beneficiaries, Opeyemi Ogunmoko, expressed her gratitude, noting that she could now hear clearly with the aid of the device.
She thanked the governor for his compassion and prayed for his continued success.
In a related development, 40 PWDs who completed a six-month vocational training in tailoring, shoemaking, hairdressing, ICT, and catering were awarded Proficiency and Trade Test Certificates from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Agboola stated that the certificates would enhance their job prospects and give them equal opportunities across Nigeria.
