Obaseki approves special bursary for visually challenged students

• Cautions new permanent secretaries on corruption

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has approved the payment of special bursary for visually impaired students of the state origin studying in tertiary institutions.

He gave the approval when the executive members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Benin City.

“Persons with disabilities are part of the society and it is obligatory on the part of government to ensure that their welfare is well taken care of,” he said. He asked the association to compile the names of its members studying in tertiary institutions for onward transmission to the Ministry of Education to enable them benefit from the scheme.

Obaseki stressed the need for quality educational system for persons with disabilities and promised that a special education department would be established at the College of Education, Abudu or the Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor.

He also assured of his administration’s support for people with disabilities and donated N1 million to the association. The governor assured that a brail press to assist persons with visual impairment transcribe normal script to brail, would be established in the state.

Speaking, Chairman of the state chapter of NAB, Nosakhare Asemota, commended the state government for his developmental strides, especially in the education sector. Asemota said their visit was to solicit the state government’s support in addressing some of the challenges confronting members of the association.

Meanwhile, Obaseki had cautioned the 12 new Permanent Secretaries against indulging in corrupt practices, which he said, would earn them dismissal and prosecution. He said his administration was averse to corruption and corrupt practices.

He said the new permanent secretaries were selected purely on merit from the outcome of the examination conducted for them by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).

“You were all selected based on the result of the examination you wrote, which was conducted by ASCON. I personally went through the marked scripts and selected the best results.