It was indeed a joyful day for the students, teachers, and entire congregation of the Anglican Diocese on the Niger over the weekend, following the commissioning of a hostel and classroom block built and donated by Godwin and Patricia Okeke Foundation.
The block of classrooms and the two-hundred-capacity hostel was built for the Special School for the Deaf, Odoakpu Onitsha, which is co-managed by the Government and the Anglican Diocese on the Niger.
The Foundation is owned by Anambra-born businessman and Chief Executive Officer of GUO Motors, Chief Sir Godwin Okeke, and his wife, Lady Patricia Okeke who marked their 75th and 70th birthday anniversaries respectively, as well as their 50th marriage anniversary.
Handing over the project to the Diocese, Sir G.U Okeke explained that this initiative reflects his commitment to helping those in need and providing quality education to students with special needs.
He appreciated his wife and children for their support and encouraged both the government and other wealthy individuals to key into investing in people with special needs, to give them a sense of belonging.
“My wife, children, and I decided to invest in the less privileged and those with special needs by constructing these dormitory and classroom facilities to create a conducive learning environment
“This donation is to encourage others in society to support the less privileged, especially those with disabilities.
“We are delighted to contribute and will continue to do so, trusting that God will reward us,” Okeke said.
Commissioning the projects, the Bishop of the Niger, Bishop Owen Nwokolo thanked God for the foundation and encouraged other notable people of the society to do the same as it is another means of evangelism.
Receiving the keys to the structures, the Principal, of Special School for the Deaf, Odoakpu, Onitsha, Mrs. Ify Felicia Agu appreciated the celebrants for the numerous roles they have played in the lives of the pupils and students.
These she noted included; the provision of Sewing machines for practical training, renovation of classroom and office blocks, payment of incentive of 30, 000 as motivation for the entire staff of the school, completion of SSCE (WAEC) registration fee for the year 2023, construction of a hostel facility for boys and girls with attractive quarters for care-givers, an ultra-modern kitchen for pupils and students, and many more.
Some of the celebrants’ children, Abuchi, Uche, and Emeka Okeke expressed their fulfillment and promised to keep their parents’ legacy of improving the quality of education and skills that Persons Living with Disabilities have access to.
