By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The Omega Power Ministries (OPM) says that 37 children living with Autism and Down syndrome have been admitted for study at its free special needs school in Port Harcourt.
The General Overseer and Founder of OPM, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, made this known during a ceremony to mark the 2022 World Down Syndrome Day on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Chinyere said that OPM had in January 2021 established a free school for children born with autism and down syndrome, to enable them to get educated and fit into the society.
“We decided to open this free school, knowing that rich people whose children have special needs take them to special schools while the poor cannot afford to do so.
“The children are created by God, and as such, it is wrong to discriminate against them, and deny them education and inclusion just because of the way they were born.
“If given the enabling environment like other kids, children living with autism and down syndrome can do and achieve great things,” he said.
He said that OPM had deliberately built the special school beside another of its free schools, to enable the physically impaired children to integrate with normal kids.
The general overseer described as wrong the perception by society that children living with autism and down syndrome are possessed by demons or are inferior.
He said: “To change this perception, we decided to bring the two free schools together, to enable the children to play together – but with different teachers.
“We believe that by doing so, the (normal) children will become familiar with autistic and down children, and as such, not discriminate against them even in their adulthood.”
According to Chinyere, the church has so far opened 18 free schools, two free hospitals as well as run free restaurants and accommodations for repentant prostitutes and destitute across the country.
He said OPM also awarded scholarships to more than 2,000 students to study in different countries in Europe, North America and South Africa.
“No fewer than 67 students will also depart Nigeria on Thursday to Cyprus on OPM scholarships. This include the two security guards that were recently sacked for dancing on duty.
“Similarly, there is no university in Nigeria that does not have at least four students studying on OPM scholarships,” he said.
He said that OPM embarked on philanthropic works to glorify God and serve humanity, adding the projects were funded through tithes and offerings of members of the church.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Education in Rivers, Prof. Kanye Ebeku, said the State Government is happy with Apostle Chinyere’s philanthropic works.
He said the Rivers State government would continue to partner with OPM and willing organisations to drive development.
“Gov. Nyesom Wike is moving to ensure the inclusion of people living with disabilities in the state through the provision of special schools and equipment to support them.
“The governor recently directed the Rivers State University to immediately employ a physically-impaired student, who holds a PhD from the university and was presented with N50 million.
Mrs Maureen Chukwu, the Director of Schools and Welfare Director, OPM Worldwide, said the students were presented free school bags, books, uniforms and other learning aids.
She said the church acquired the school for N110 million and had in October acquired a new Innoson School Bus at the cost of N43 million for the institution. (NAN)
