Students of the Christian Mission School for the Deaf, located in Ibadan, Oyo State, have made a heartfelt appeal to the state government to halt the alleged sale of their 39-acre property along kilometre 18 of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
In a peaceful protest held on Thursday in Ibadan, the students carried placards bearing passionate messages such as “The deaf have the rights to live,” “Please, do not snatch our lands,” “Don’t punch the deaf in the face,” “Please, do not oppress the deaf,” and “The deaf are helpless, help us.”
Speaking on behalf of the students, a member of the school’s advisory board, Gbenga Idowu, revealed that the land was lawfully acquired in 2005.
However, he explained that trouble began in 2018 when the government reportedly took over the property without prior notice, despite the fact that the land was duly registered.
“We have no power of our own. We are not happy about the encroachment. We have only 39 acres. In a saner clime, the government will fully support us due to the disability of these innocent and helpless children. If our government will not help us, they should leave us with the little we struggled to get,” Idowu said.
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He emphasized that the institution is inclusive and not restricted to one religion, as it welcomes students from various backgrounds, including Muslims, from different parts of the country.
Appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde, Idowu called for the protection of the school’s interest and urged the governor to intervene personally to resolve the matter justly.
“We firmly believe in your (Makinde) commitment to justice, equity, and the well-being of all citizens of this state, including the most vulnerable. We implore you to personally look into our predicaments and provide a final and just resolution to this protracted issue. The future of countless deaf individuals, their hopes for education, self-reliance, and dignity, rest upon your compassionate intervention,” he pleaded.
Idowu also recounted the school’s mission to give deaf students a future beyond the streets by offering them quality education and life skills.
“For years, our mission has strived tirelessly to uplift deaf individuals, preventing them from the indignity of becoming street beggars and urchins.
“We established Primary and Secondary Schools for the Deaf, located at Plot 78 Commercial Reservation, off Kudeti Avenue, Onireke Government Reserved Area, Ibadan, in the year 1998 and 2004, respectively. However, the overwhelming number of students and dedicated staff has rendered this place severely congested,” he noted.
Driven by the desire to expand and provide more comprehensive training, including vocational, agricultural, and even tertiary education, Idowu explained that the school acquired the 39-acre land with the help of donors and well-wishers who support the cause.
“We bought it through the generous contributions of compassionate families, friends, and supporters who share our unwavering love for the deaf. This land represents a beacon of hope, a tangible step towards realising our vision of a self-sufficient and empowered deaf community,” he said.
Despite this effort, Idowu lamented that 19 acres of the land have already been taken over, even with some structures already standing on the site.
“They have forcefully taken over 19 acres despite the structures we built on it. The place we have at Onireke is already choked up and that’s why we looked for a more spacious place to give life to the deaf,” he added.
Expressing deep frustration, Idowu concluded, “If we are trying to give meaningful life to these children, I think our efforts should be complemented.”
