THE German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Stephan Schlagheck, has said children with special needs are great gifts from God and parents should cherish them as such.
Ambassador Bernhard Schlagheck, who was speaking at the official commissioning of Special School for Disabled Children permanent site at Juji village, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna said although sometimes these children could be a burden, but they are a great gifts from God and we have to cherish them all.
Schlagheck, observed that the disabled and handicap children are the future of Nigeria if given proper education in a healthy, and secured environment with social experience without looking down on their condition; adding that the newly commissioned school was a pre-requisite for building human, a just and democratic society, where the weak and vulnerable in the communities within the society are respected and cherished.
“We are convinced with the very idea of the school and it is a grandiose idea bearing deeply for disabled and handicapped children. I’m very impressed and it’s particularly due to Dr. Innocent Unechechukwu Udogbara and his wife experience for the last couple of years.
“The disabled and handicap children are the future of Nigeria if given proper education in a healthy and secured environment with social experience without looking down on their condition.
The newly commissioned school is a pre-requisite for building human, a just and democratic society, to respect where the weak and vulnerable in the communities within the society are respected and cherished.
“I have to say that the basic line is, even a handicap or disabled child is a great treasure. And that is also a treasure for parents. Although sometimes it could be a burden, but they’re great gifts from God and I think we have to cherish them all,” Ambassador Schlagheck said.
Dr. Innocent Unchekukwu Udogbara, Founder of the Congenital Deformity Babies Foundation, owners of the Special School for Disabled Children while speaking to the media said the vision of the school is to give succor to orphans and disabled children; and also provide them with good education to discourage them from street begging.
He called on Kaduna State Government, Civil Society Organizations, well-meaning Nigerians and International donors to partner with the School and give it a face lift to meet international standard.
According to Dr. Innocent Udogbara, the school challenges include; fencing for security, pipe born water, electricity, chairs and tables for studying, writing materials, training and retraining both local and international to meet current standard.
Others are; clinic, sick bays, blind and Braille equipment to enable them attain their potentials in education and other societal development.
He commended the German Government for according the school the utmost priority by being present at the commissioning and hoped that their support will go a long way in building a living condition of the disabled children
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