115 Days of Silence: Governor Eno Leaves Special Education Students in Limbo
By Ndifreke Enefiok, Uyo
The hall was chilly and filled with an electric sense of anticipation that evening. It was a significant day for the media community in Akwa Ibom State. Over 800 journalists and media professionals had gathered to meet the number one citizen of the state, Governor Umo Eno.
It was May 28, 2024, and the Government House wore a regal atmosphere. Men in black suits lined every entrance and exit. But for this reporter, the event had one clear goal: to bring the plight of students living with disabilities in the state’s only Special Education Centre, Mbiabong Etoi, to the governor’s attention.
When the time came for questions, this reporter asked Governor Eno why so little had been done to address the conditions of the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Centre, Mbiabong Etoi—an inclusive school that serves both students with disabilities and their regular peers. The school has a teeming population of over 1,920 students.
The governor, while replying to the question, admitted that he was unaware of the situation but pledged to visit the school within a month.
“The issue of the Special Education Centre has not been brought to my notice. I haven’t visited the school since I assumed office, but I will go there within one month,’’ he said.
115 Days Later: Expectations Hang in the Balance
Uboho Ime, a Senior Secondary two student at the Special Education Centre, is visually impaired. Her dream is to become a world-class journalist. But the reality of life at her school paints a much grimmer picture.
She describes long stretches of hunger and the struggle to concentrate in class due to the lack of food.
“Last term was tough on us. Some of us who couldn’t bear the hunger had to feed on cassava and maize grown on the school premises just to get by,” she recalled.
Ime, who also serves as the school’s head girl, explains that the poor feeding condition directly affects the students’ education.
“We ate once or twice a day. Sometimes only once. It was very difficult to focus in class when your stomach is empty,” she said holding back tears.
Hope sparked briefly when the governor promised to visit, but by the end of the third term, that hope had faded. The students waited for Governor Eno, but he never came.
For students like Ime and her peers, who come from families unable to support them financially, the Special Education Centre is more than a school—it is a refuge.
A New Term Begins: Will the Students Wait in Vain?
A new school term has begun. Ime, like many of her peers at the school, faces uncertainty. On September 17, 2024, while students in better-funded private boarding schools returned to well-maintained classrooms and refectories, the students at Mbiabong Etoi confronted the same dire conditions.
Ime has delayed her return to school, waiting to gather enough provisions from her church and family to last her through the term.
“I can’t go back without gathering enough provisions. Last term was tough. Some days we were supported through donations from kind people and NGOs and it was not easy starving.”
Another student, who requested anonymity, expressed concern that the economic hardship caused by rising fuel prices would further strain his family’s ability to support him.
“I want to learn and become a teacher, but how can I, when our school is in this condition and the government doesn’t care?”
A Dream Deferred: The ARISE Agenda Falls Short
Governor Umo Eno’s administration touts its ARISE Agenda, which promises improvements in education, but the plight of the Special Education Centre clearly contradicts those claims. The state prides itself on its free and compulsory education policy, yet these students seem forgotten.
The lack of action from the government is particularly glaring when contrasted with recent initiatives. Less than two weeks ago, Governor Eno approved a ₦310 million support fund for youth structures in the 31 local government areas, increased the student bursary from ₦10,000 to ₦20,000, and announced monthly grants for 5,000 youths.
Recently, the Governor sponsored some secondary school students from the state to the United Kingdom for an educational exchange programme. Yet, nothing has been done to address the basic needs of students living with disabilities at the Special Education Centre despite the Mail Newspaper’s earlier report.
The dilapidated state of the school’s infrastructure reflects this neglect. The last major project—a refectory—was constructed in 2019 by former first lady Dr. Martha Udom. Other buildings and classrooms were either donated by NGOs or companies, further underscoring the government’s failure to prioritize the school.
The 2024 Budget: A Missed Opportunity
A review of the Akwa Ibom State 2024 budget reveals further disappointment. While ₦200 million was allocated for the construction of three new inclusive schools, and provisions were made for vocational training, braille books, hearing aids, and other vital equipment, no funds have been released.
This financial shortfall violates both the Universal Basic Education Law of Akwa Ibom State (2005) and the Child Rights Law (2008), which mandate adequate funding for schools, particularly for children with disabilities.
The law is clear: all children, including those with special needs, are entitled to quality education. Yet, the current state of the Special Education Centre flagrantly violates these legal requirements.
A Future in Jeopardy
As the new school term begins, the students at Mbiabong Etoi face an uncertain future. They wonder if Governor Eno will honor his promise or if they will continue to be neglected by the government.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate for inclusive, equitable and quality education, but for students like Ime, this ideal seems distant. They wait, hoping that their dreams will not be dashed by the government’s failure to act.
Will Governor Eno finally visit the Special Education Centre and address the students’ needs, or will their cries for help continue to fall on deaf ears?
For the students at Mbiabong Etoi, the answer to this question will determine whether they can hope for a better future—or whether their dreams will remain, tragically, out of reach.
Or will the governor continue to maintain silence, leaving the students in limbo?