Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader, has made a generous donation of two mini-buses, two motorcycles, and 25 wheelchairs to the Therapy Centre for Children with Disabilities in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. This donation was made in an effort to support Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s ongoing initiatives to improve the lives and welfare of children with disabilities in the state.
The donation was made during a visit to the Therapy Centre on April 7, 2025, where Senator Bamidele was accompanied by Governor Oyebanji. The items were officially received by Adetoun Agboola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion. The gesture was acknowledged as a significant contribution to the ongoing development of facilities and support systems for children with disabilities in the region.
In his remarks, Senator Bamidele commended Governor Oyebanji for his dedication to the welfare of children with disabilities, noting that the Therapy Centre was the first state-owned facility of its kind in Nigeria. The senator expressed his admiration for the work being done at the centre and promised to work towards expanding its capacity. “This therapy centre is the first state-owned facility of its kind in the country,” he said, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives for the state.
Senator Bamidele also shared plans for future developments, stating, “Let me begin by thanking our governor for bringing me here to see what’s happening. I also want to thank the state government for conceptualising this initiative. I extend my gratitude to the workers, the volunteer parents, the professionals, and all the interveners here. I am glad to be here, and I believe we need to attract all the encouragement we can from the Federal Government.”
He further committed to facilitating a larger facility next year, adding, “From my budget of N1.5bn for construction, I will take it on, and by God’s grace, we will commence work here next year.” He mentioned that in the meantime, efforts would be made to maintain the current facilities and to explore opportunities for corporate social responsibility contributions.
Governor Oyebanji, on his part, reiterated the urgent need for a bigger structure to accommodate the increasing number of children who require therapy. Currently, the centre serves about 70 children but can only cater to them in batches due to space constraints.
“Distinguished Senator, the reason I brought you here is that we currently have 70 children, but due to a lack of space, we must attend to them in batches,” the governor said. He expressed hope that with the support of the Senate Leader and other stakeholders, a new building would soon be constructed.
The Therapy Centre focuses on children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, and other severe conditions. Many of these children are unable to fit into regular schools due to the intensity of their needs. Agboola, the governor’s aide, expressed gratitude for the facilities that allow these children to receive specialized physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
