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By Gilbert Ekezie
Members of Soroptimist International Nigeria (SINA) recently brought smiles to the faces of students and staff of Wesley School for Hearing-Impaired Children, Surulere, Lagos. They were in the school to present 100 pieces of plastic chairs to the authorities.
Excited students of the school could not hold their joy. And since they couldn’t talk, they busied themselves jumping all over the premises in a show of appreciation to their benefactors.
National President of SINA, Mrs. Nneka Chris-Asoluka, expressed satisfaction with the quality training being given to the children. She noted that if more support was given to the school, the teachers would do more for the children.
She explained that Soroptimist International was a women organisation with focus on women and the girl child.
“The association appeals and creates awareness for value to be added to the life of every woman and girl in the society. Soroptimist International educates, empowers and enables the woman and girl child to be more useful in the society,” she explained.
Asoluka also stated that members of the organisation were interested in elevating the standard of the teachings in schools, especially those for physically challenged pupils, so that the children would be comfortably nurtured to have a proper sense of belonging.
Speaking on ‘Ability in disability,’ Asoluka advised that disability should never be a reason for one to give up, insisting that every disabled person had the ability to achieve whatever he or she wants in life.
She advised the students to believe in themselves and never entertain self pity about their condition. She said there many things they could do better than some able people.
“For you to become somebody, you need to work hard. Your situation should not be a barrier to achieving your aims. You should remain focused, listen to your teachers and learn to become whoever you want to be.”
She asserted that everyone must join hands to ensure that no girl child was left to suffer in an avoidable condition.
“We should not wait for the government to do everything for us. If all of us go out there to add values, it would go a long way in alleviating the problems in the society. What we are doing here today is part of the little contributions we can make to affect lives of these children, and we will continue to do our best with the little funds available. So, others should not forget to do the little they could to add value to the lives of the less privileged in the society.”
President of the organisation in Lagos, Abiola Agusto Agoro lauded Mrs. Shade Okoya, wife of Chairman of Eleganza Industries, who provided the 100 pieces of plastic chairs donated to the school in commemoration of her 40th birthday.
Agoro said members of Soroptimist always hold a party for children of the school every Easter Monday to give the kids a sense of belonging.
“We cater for about 21 different physically challenged schools in Lagos State, with children numbering about 500 every year and they always look forward to the event. We try to treat them the way we treat our own children because they also need love and care. That is part of the way we decided to make them happy and at the same time, have sense of belonging,” she said.
Agoro regretted that the society and the government were not doing enough for less privileged children and women in the society and appealed to individuals and organisations to support programmes aimed at affecting the lives of women and children.
In his response, Vice Principal of the School , Mr Shomide Macaulay commended members of Soroptimist for the gesture, saying that it would go a long way in tackling some of challenges in the school.
He described Soroptimist International as an organisation that has been doing a lot to touch lives in the society and appealed to them not to relent. “You have always identified with our school by putting smiles on the faces of the children to let them know that they are not alone,” she said.
One of the Students, Sophia, who spoke on behalf of other students thanked the organisation for showing love to them and prayed that God would continue to enrich the members.
