Ndidiamaka EdeThe Association of Students with Special Needs (ASSN) at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has called for better welfare for the members on campus.
The group made the call during the send-off party organised for the graduating students among them.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelImmediate past president of ASSN, UNN chapter, Manifest Eja, called on the school authority to find ways of helping students with special needs, not just in the hostel but across the entire school to enable them maximise their potential and have access to quality education.
Students with special needs in the group include the visually-impaired and those with other forms of physical disabilities.
Eja said: “the visually impaired students could not read textbooks, so the school should find a way of providing soft copies of materials for them instead of selling textbooks to them.”
He also asked the school to always give orientation to other students on how to relate with people with special needs on campus. According to him, many students did not know how to interact with those with special needs on campus.
The event took place at Malima Hall/Restaurant, UNN, with about 18 graduating students with special needs in attendance. They received awards for their contributions to success of the group. Some of them including Manifest Eja & John Adoyi from the Department Of Mass Communication; Pascaline Agbo, Joy Ogbonna & Patience Ezennaba from Psychology Department; Sopuruchi Timoty from Sociology and Anthropology department; Chisom Onyewuchi from Music Department; Victor Anawo from Social Studies education; Abiodun from english Education Department; Sylvia Onyinyechi from Public Administration Department and Local Government, etc were celebrated in a special way.
In his remarks, the current president of ASSN, Mr. Chima Victor, thanked the graduating members. He stated that they were the best because there were many talented and intelligent individuals among them. Mr. Victor also prayed that God would bless them as they are stepping into another phase of life.
In an interaction, the immediate past president, who is also one of the graduating students, Manifest Eja, thanked God for his Administration. He revealed that one of his biggest achievements was the ‘Christmas Carol Concert’ held on December 8, 2023 in commemoration of the International Disability Day. He said “the event was the first of its kind in UNN.”
Eja said he had learnt a lot as a president, managing people and resources to solve the association’s problems. However, Eja expressed his trust that the current executives would perform even better than he had.
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Furthermore, the immediate past president of ASSN recognized the efforts of some individuals who had always supported students with special needs. He thanked, in a special way, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Edwin Omeje because he (the dean) has been doing a lot for ASSN. Eja also extended his appreciation to the head of the Counseling Unit at Student’s Affairs, who is also the Director of students with special needs Mrs. Helen Echezona; the university librarian Dr. Promise Ifeoma Ilo, and everyone who has supported ASSN in one way or another, including ASSN staff Adviser, Associate Prof. Ngozi Osadebe.
He said: “the visually impaired students could not read textbooks, so the school should find a way of providing soft copies of materials for them instead of selling textbooks to them.
He also asked the school to always orient every other student on how to relate with ASSN members during orientation/matriculation ceremonies because many students did not know how to interact with students with special needs on campus.
Hon. Eja received award of most influential student of the year while other departing students were also given awards based on their efforts in the association. They also thanked the union immensely for having supported them since their first year. “This ceremony is really an emotional thing; I will not forget what I have benefited here since year one. All thanks to this family,” said John Adoyi, the immediate past Secretary-General of the association.
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The graduating students were also presented with packages as the members of the members continued to state that they would miss them.
The event also witnessed the induction of the freshmen into the union. The new members promised to be loyal and cooperative as long as they were students at UNN.
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