Ekiti Gets First Inclusive School as Oyebode Donates Adaptive Classrooms in Ikole

Oyebode Donates Adaptive Classrooms in Ikole

Ekiti State recorded a landmark in education on Thursday as the Irepodun Community Pilot School in Ikole became the state’s first fully inclusive public school, following the handover of newly built adaptive classrooms and facilities by former Commissioner for Finance, Akintunde Oyebode.

The project, designed to give children with disabilities equal access to quality education, was handed over to the Office of Special Education and Social Inclusion at a ceremony attended by senior government officials, community leaders, and traditional rulers.

Mr Oyebode told reporters that the initiative was born out of both compassion and urgency, pointing out that children with special needs in Ikole and neighbouring communities had long endured the hardship of travelling to distant towns in search of inclusive schools.

“This is about fairness and dignity. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn without barriers,” he said. “This project reduces the struggle parents face and ensures that children with disabilities in Ikole can learn in a supportive environment close to home. It is not charity, but an investment in the human potential of Ekiti State.”

Oyebode Donates Adaptive Classrooms in Ikole

Oyebode Donates Adaptive Classrooms in Ikole

The new facility, retrofitted to meet inclusive education standards, includes classrooms equipped with adaptive features to support children with different learning needs. Parents of enrolled pupils have also been given support tokens to purchase uniforms, a move officials say is meant to encourage immediate enrolment and smooth resumption.

Princess Adetoun Agboola, Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, described the handover as a milestone in Ekiti’s education policy. She said the state was already aligning with the Federal Ministry of Education’s directive that states create actionable frameworks for inclusive education.

“Inclusive education goes beyond infrastructure; it is about bringing all children into the same classrooms and fostering empathy, fairness and opportunity. Hon. Oyebode has set a new standard in showing what true inclusion looks like,” she said.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji, represented at the event by Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, commended the gesture and called it a vital complement to his administration’s people-centred policies. He urged other well-meaning Ekiti indigenes to emulate Oyebode’s example by investing in projects that strengthen public welfare.

“Our government is committed to creating an enabling environment for people with disabilities across the state. This partnership between private citizens and government demonstrates that collective action can transform lives,” Mr Aribasoye said.

Special Adviser on Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, also highlighted the significance of private support in public development, stressing that government cannot provide all infrastructure alone. “Initiatives like this are not only an investment in education, they are an investment in humanity,” he said.

From the traditional institution, High Chief Shayo Okunola conveyed the appreciation of the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti to Mr Oyebode, describing him as a worthy ambassador of the community. He said the project had lifted a heavy burden from families with special needs children, who previously endured long commutes to secure education for their wards.

The event was attended by former Attorney General Wale Fapohunda (SAN), political leaders including Hon. Dapo Karounwi, community chiefs and residents of Ikole who welcomed the project as a turning point for special education in the state.

Oyebode Donates Adaptive Classrooms in Ikole

For many parents present, the moment was more than ceremonial. It was a promise that their children, often overlooked in mainstream planning, could finally study in dignity among their peers. In a state where education has long been a rallying point for progress, the birth of Ekiti’s first inclusive school may yet prove a defining step in building a society where no child is left behind.