In a significant move to address hearing impairments and promote inclusion, the Ekiti State Government has provided hearing aids worth N12 million to five beneficiaries—four school children and one adult—after a thorough assessment exercise.
Presenting the devices at the Ekiti State Skills Acquisition Centre, Ilokun, Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, explained that the recipients were selected after a pilot study involving 70 hearing-impaired individuals. The assessment identified five candidates with hearing challenges that could be improved with electronic devices.
Princess Agboola underscored the importance of early detection and intervention in children with disabilities, encouraging parents to closely monitor their children’s health and resist the urge to withdraw them from school due to physical challenges.
“When Governor Biodun Oyebanji came on board, he made it clear that all children, regardless of their condition, must be given equal access to education,” she said. “We assessed the children professionally and discovered that with the right hearing aids, many could regain effective communication. The devices might be costly, but His Excellency is committed to improving their quality of life.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani—represented by the Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Dr Charles Doherty—described the intervention as more than a health initiative, but a critical step toward communication, education, and inclusion. He reiterated the government’s focus on Universal Health Coverage and inclusive healthcare, ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to essential services and assistive tools.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Opeyemi Ogunmoko, expressed gratitude to the Governor, stating that the device has restored her hearing and renewed her hope. “Now I can hear clearly,” she said, while praying for the Governor’s continued success.
In addition to the hearing aids, 40 persons with disabilities (PWDs) were awarded the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Proficiency and Trade Test Certificates. The recipients had completed a six-month training programme in trades such as tailoring, shoemaking, hairdressing, ICT, and catering.
Princess Agboola assured them of the government’s ongoing support and said the certificates will qualify them for employment nationwide, putting them on an equal footing with others in the job market.
