In a passionate call for inclusivity and equal opportunity, Olalekan Monsur Abiola, representing Akinyele Constituency 1 at the Oyo State House of Assembly, has urged the Oyo State Government to extend its current school feeding and accommodation programs to cover secondary school students in special needs schools across the state.

Presenting a motion titled “Passionate Appeal to the Oyo State Government to Include Secondary School Students of Special Needs Schools in Accommodation and School Feeding Programs,” Hon. Abiola commended the government’s existing initiatives for primary special needs pupils but expressed deep concern that secondary students have been left out of these welfare schemes despite facing even greater challenges.

He noted that the existing programs have significantly improved the welfare of primary school pupils by providing safe accommodation, reducing parental burden, and ensuring proper monitoring by caregivers. However, he lamented that the absence of similar provisions for secondary special needs students has created hardship, affecting their attendance, academic performance, and overall well-being.

Hon. Abiola further observed that many of these vulnerable students come from low-income families and, in some cases, resort to street or roadside begging to survive. He warned that such exposure endangers their lives and contradicts the government’s commitment to inclusive and quality education for all.

The lawmaker therefore called on the Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, to extend the accommodation and feeding initiatives to secondary special needs schools across the state. He also appealed for adequate budgetary allocation and strict monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective implementation and sustainability.

Hon. Abiola reaffirmed his dedication to promoting inclusive education and protecting vulnerable children in Oyo State. “Every child, regardless of ability or background, deserves access to quality education, care, and dignity,” he said. “By extending these programs to our special needs secondary students, we will not only strengthen inclusiveness but also nurture a generation that feels valued and supported.”