By Elizabeth Osayande

In a clime where education is now a goldmine, Place of Liberty Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, is bringing succor to special needs children by providing them with free-tuition education.

Celebrating this noble feat, the board members of the school, in marking its third anniversary, pledged their continuous commitment to providing quality education for children with special needs, whom they described as bundles of talent who only needed proper support to thrive.

In his remark, a board member who doubles as the President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, explained that the school was established to offer support to children with special needs, many of whom had been hidden at home due to financial and psychological constraints.

“Over half of them used to be hidden at home, and no one knew anything about them. We are thankful to God that their parents are now able to bring them out with pride to show what they can do,” he said.

Oluwole added that the goal was to encourage other individuals and organizations to provide similar support, potentially through corporate social responsibility and CSR initiatives, raising the importance of vocational training for the children.

According to him: “We began offering vocational courses earlier this year. Some of these children may not be able to take up regular jobs due to their challenges, which is why we started the vocational school, to help them learn skills and produce items that can be sold, making them self-sufficient and productive members of society,” Oluwole emphasised.

In his remarks, another board member, Mr. Ladipo Oluwole, stated that the initiative was inspired by the memory of his late parents, who shared a passion for children with special needs. “Today is the Founder’s Day, which coincides with the anniversary of my parents’ passing on September 18. This school was inspired by their memory,” he said.

He revealed that Place of Liberty operated in partnership with the Lagos Mainland Anglican Diocese, which officially owns the school, and that everything provided for the students was free, as the school relied on donations. “We currently have 30 children enrolled, with 11 having graduated to the vocational school.”

On her part, the school’s administrator, Mrs. Olufunke Lipede, emphasised the importance of inclusive education for children with special needs. She expressed pride in the milestones achieved by the pupils and paid tribute to the late Very Revd. T.A.J. Oluwole and Mrs. Modupe Oluwole, in whose memory the school was founded.

“Today, we celebrate not only the founding of our school but also the tireless efforts of our founders, who envisioned a place where any child, regardless of ability, could thrive and reach their full potential,” Lipede said, calling for a moment of silence in their honor.

The school boasts state-of-the-art facilities, continuous training for its staff, and a clear vision for the future. “We remain committed to empowering our pupils to reach their full potential,” Lipede concluded.