…Moves to ease family’s financial burden, promises stronger support for persons with disabilities
The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has extended an educational support package to the twin sons of a physically challenged resident of Ona Ara Local Government Area, Mr Abass Idowu Sakiru, pledging to take responsibility for their 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) registration and tutorial fees.
Adekanmbi further assured the two boys of university scholarships at any federal government-owned higher institution of their choice in Nigeria, should they record outstanding performances in their WAEC examinations.
The intervention followed an emotional appeal by Sakiru during a live media engagement with Adekanmbi on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), where he narrated the financial difficulties he faces in catering for his family due to his physical disability, which particularly affects his eyesight.
During the phone-in session, Sakiru disclosed that his condition and financial limitations had made it difficult for him to meet some of his responsibilities as a father, revealing that he could not afford his son’s WAEC registration fee the previous year. He consequently appealed for assistance to enable his children to continue their education without interruption.
Moved by the appeal, Adekanmbi facilitated a meeting with Sakiru at his campaign office in Jericho, Ibadan. The father attended with one of his twin sons, while the other remained at home.
At the meeting, Adekanmbi personally engaged the father and his son before directing immediate arrangements for the registration of both children for the 2027 WAEC examination. He also approved the payment of their tutorial and lesson fees to ensure they receive adequate preparation ahead of the examinations.
Beyond the immediate educational intervention, the APM candidate reaffirmed his commitment to improving the welfare of persons living with disabilities, emphasising the need for an inclusive society where physical challenges do not become barriers to opportunities, dignity and economic participation.
He stressed that persons living with disabilities deserve more than sympathy, noting that deliberate policies, practical assistance and equal opportunities are essential to improving their living conditions and enabling them to contribute meaningfully to society.
Adekanmbi also encouraged the twins to remain focused, disciplined and committed to their studies, assuring them that their family’s present financial circumstances should not define their future or limit their aspirations.
He extended his encouragement to the twin brother who was absent from the meeting, urging both boys to pursue academic excellence and remain determined to achieve their dreams.
The promised university scholarships, he maintained, would provide another layer of support for the children, ensuring that outstanding academic performance would not be frustrated by financial constraints.
The gesture highlights the importance of responsive leadership, educational intervention and social inclusion in addressing the challenges confronting vulnerable families, particularly those with members living with disabilities.
