By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Godwin and Patricia Okeke Foundation (GPOF) sponsored by Anambra-born business man, Chief Godwin Okeke and wife, Patricia Okeke have donated a dormitory and classroom blocks to Special School for the Deaf domiciled in Odoakpu, Onitsha, Anambra State.
The official handover ceremony and commissioning of the building projects took place on Sunday, 30th June 2024 at the premises of the school which was witnessed by the Bishop on the Niger (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo in company of retinue of clergymen.
In his address during the official handover ceremony to the school management held at the School premises, Sir Okeke informed that the gesture was his way of giving the needy in the society a sense of belonging, provide adequate platform for formal education for the learning impaired persons (The Deaf) and to enable the students to have access to quality education.
According to him, “I, my wife and my children took it upon ourselves to invest in the less-privileged and people with special needs by building this dormitory and classroom blocks for conducive learning. This also is part of celebrating my 75th birthday and my wife’s 70th birthday, we both decided to built and donate this edifice to the school, owned by the Diocese on the Niger (Anglican Communion) Onitsha to encouraged them.
“We did this work just to encourage other well meaning Nigerian to come out and invest in the less privilege, particularly, for people with disabilities living among them. We have contributed to making their lives better and will continue to do this to support humanity,” Okeke said.
Responding, the Bishop on the Niger (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo eulogized Sir Okeke and family for their evergreen philanthropic gesture and support towards humanity in terms of human capital development and promotion of education. The cleric stated that the donation of the building project is timely and would go a long way in assuaging the yearnings of the school management and the students. He prayed for God’s continuous blessings on Sir Okeke and his family.
In her address, the Principal of the School, Ify Felicia Agu, appreciating the benefactor for the kind gesture which will be fully utilized to empower the students in their academic pursuit. Agu disclosed that the structure equipped with learning facilities is an ultra-modem hostel facilities for boys and girls with attached caregivers and ultra-modern kitchen for the students.
She also noted that a set of sewing machines for practical training, renovation of classroom and office block, payment of incentive of N30,000 as motivation for the entire staff of the school and compilation of SSCE (WAEC) for the year 2023 were part of the official commissioning of the dormitory and classroom blocks.
Other highlights of the official commissioning of the building project were cutting of the ribbons, presentation of special portrait of Sir Okeke alongside the wife, prayers on the building project as well as special rendition by the students.
