‘NO LONGER SHALL FAMILIES HIDE US AWAY’: MRS. OKWUEZE, JESSE SHORT, OTHERS PREACH SOCIAL INCLUSION, SHOWCASE UNIQUE ABILITIES AT SECO EVENT IN LAGOS
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
President and Founder, Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO), Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze,(middle) pose with the Blind People during their presentation during the annual activity Fair and Social Inclusion Awareness Campaign Organized by SECO held in Lagos
It was an afternoon of display of exuberant talent, animated brilliance, and unassuming elegance when the high flying Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO) hosted children and adults from various homes, organizations and the public her annual Social Inclusion Awareness and Fair Activity. The event which held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos provided an enabling atmosphere and a veritable platform for children with unique abilities to showcase their prowess and specialty. An
instrumental group of children with autism was on hand to open the program with the national anthem. Another group of acapella singers serenaded the audience to an awesome rendition of songs. Another girl with cerebral palsy did a melodious performance. The girl was showered with praises having recently started out on her educational journey since she experienced some delays on her path. Hers was a fitting story of resilience exhibited through all.
Speaking on the reason for the event, the President and Founder of Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO), Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze said: ‘We appreciate your presence. Some of you have relationship with us in the past. Some are just starting now. Our name is SECO. We support children and adults with different challenges. The purpose of this event is to show care to these individuals. We want the world to see what you can do. Not always what you can’t do.’
President and Founder, Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO), Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze (Second from back roll); Director, Monitoring, Evaluation and Orientation (LASODA), Mr. Oguntoye Akintunde Oyewole (left in Suit) with other guest dancing with the participants during the annual activity Fair and Social Inclusion Awareness Campaign Organized by SECO held in Lagos
‘I am a special educator for over 20 years. Every time I come home, it breaks my heart that’s why I brought this opportunity up. Thank God for my husband who agreed and we started this together. That’s the passion. We have been doing this for three years.’
She went further to establish the need for the society to provide due attention for persons with special abilities. ‘Every human has a disability, every human has what they can’t do – physically, mentally, intellectually and other ways. What you need is empathy. Empowerment is how we do that. We are here to showcase the best of ourselves.’
She concluded by kicking against discrimination in the society. ‘No longer shall family members hide us away. We are artists, singers, we can do all that we can do.’
‘The United Nations has given a mandate to create an inclusive world. The only way we can do that is to go to the grassroots to break cultural behaviours that always hide the children or see them as curses. But we have to start early with the children so that we can bring out the skills in them.
Also speaking at at the event, SECO Project Director, Mr. Jesse Short, ‘The children are not disabled but differently-abled. We need to encourage their ability. Nigeria signed the UN mandate. She also has her own disability law in 2019. More than the law, we will need to see the children included in the society.’
Mr. Short also talked about the plans of the organization and how they will be impacting the children in various ways. He mentioned the intervention in terms of wheelchairs, walking aids, speech support, among others that will be delivered.
R-L: President and Founder, Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO), Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze; Parents of Cerebral palsy, Mr. Muyiwa Ojumu; Director of Operations (SECO) Mr. Jesse Short Poses with Gbemisola Ojumu (in Wheel Chair) during the Annual Activity Fair and Social Inclusion Awareness Campaign Organized by SECO held in Lagos.
The Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) was also present at the programme. The Director of Monitoring at LASODA, Mr. Oguntoye Akintunde Oyewole mentioned the roles that the Lagos state government is playing to bring a better day for those living with disability. ‘Accessibility is a major challenge. That is why LASODA is creating more awareness about it. Many of our bridges are now built with ramps. We want to ensure that all public offices have ramps so that those who are wheelchair-bound can access buildings easily.’
‘It is of utmost importance for Lagos state to know the number of persons living with disability in the state. That’s why LASODA is having a registry with LASSRA so that they would not be excluded.’
L-R: President and Founder, Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO), Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze; a Sign Instructor and Director of Operations (SECO) Mr. Jesse Short.
The founder of a school for children with learning disabilities, Mrs. Damilola Olayinka said: ‘The children find it difficult to get concepts and they need instructors who are patient, insistent, and courageous.’
‘This program will further help to create awareness. We came with some exhibition materials which are very useful and not expensive but are a way to empower these children. They are branded with ‘I am autistic. Love me for who I am’.
Cross section of participants
The Vice President of Nigeria Centre for the Blind, Mrs. Moraliat shared: ‘Our Centre was established in 1957 under Royal Commonwealth to train adult blind people to become self-reliant. It is a federal school and about 10-11 states are represented as we speak. The centre was established so that people will be able to stand for themselves and not be dependent on others for upkeep.’
‘We thank God that some of our people are now out there in the society helping themselves, family, and community. The FG is trying for us but we also need support of kindhearted individuals. It is when we are invited to places like these that we have the opportunity to sell.’
President and Founder, Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO), Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze (left) accessing some of the hand maid products at the Exhibition tables.
On the need for inclusion, ‘it is God that has all of us. Disability is not a respecter of anybody. Even parents who are hiding their children can find themselves in position of disability at any point. So they should bring the children out to where they can be helped to stand on their own.’
‘Begging is not allowed. We discourage it in our centre. It is better to teach them how to fish than for someone to be giving you fish every time. There is no one that doesn’t have a skill or the other that he/she can use to provide himself or herself a form of livelihood.’
L-R: A Guest; Director Monitoring Evaluation and Orientation (LASODA), Mr. Oguntoye Akintunde Oyewole; President and Founder, Special Education Collaborative Outreach (SECO), Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze; Assistant Director in Charge of Medical, Rehabilitation, Mobility Aids and Appliances (LASODA), Mrs. Adesina Christiana Aina; Director of Operations (SECO), Mr. Jesse Short and Director (LASODA), Mrs. Omolade Sonubi during the annual activity Fair and Social Inclusion Awareness Campaign Organized by SECO held in Lagos 
L-R: Black Solo; Mr. Jesse Short; A Little Girl; Mr. Naoh; Mrs. Imuetinyan Okwueze and others at the redcarpet session.
