The Rotary Club of Akure Prestige has commissioned a newly renovated boys’ hostel at the School for the Hearing Impaired, Akure, as part of its 2025/2026 Star Club Project aimed at improving the welfare and learning environment of students with special needs.
The project, which involved the complete renovation of Block A of the Boys’ Hostel, was officially unveiled at a ceremony attended by government officials, Rotarians, school administrators, students and other stakeholders.
Speaking during the commissioning, the President of the Rotary Club of Akure Prestige, Mr. Dauda Ajibade, described the intervention as his signature project for the Rotary year and a demonstration of the club’s commitment to humanitarian service and community development.
Ajibade explained that the project was conceived after members of the club visited the school in July 2025 to donate a grounding machine and subsequently discovered that several facilities within the institution required urgent attention.
According to him, the hostel was selected for intervention due to its deteriorating condition and the need to provide students with a safer and more conducive living environment.
Representing the Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Ogbekele Ajibefun, Mr. Olu Obajulaye commended the Rotary Club for complementing government efforts in the education sector.
He described the renovation as a significant contribution to the welfare and educational advancement of hearing-impaired students, noting that such partnerships remain essential to improving public educational facilities.
The highlight of the event was the formal commissioning and unveiling of the renovated hostel by Rotarians, government representatives and invited guests.
Students of the school added colour to the ceremony with a novelty football match and cultural performances, showcasing their talents and reinforcing the message that disability should not be viewed as inability.
The Project Director and supervising engineer gave an overview of the work carried out, explaining that the facility had been transformed from a dilapidated structure into a modern and comfortable hostel for the students.
Also speaking at the event, the Immediate Past President of the club, Mr. Victor Adegoke, urged the school management and students to ensure proper maintenance of the facility to guarantee its longevity and continued usefulness.
The Principal of the School for the Hearing Impaired expressed appreciation to the Rotary Club of Akure Prestige for the intervention and pledged that the hostel would be properly maintained for the benefit of present and future students.
Stakeholders at the event emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing societal challenges, noting that government alone cannot meet all developmental needs.
They commended the Rotary Club for its commitment to service and expressed hope that the project would inspire similar interventions by other corporate and community-based organizations.
The commissioning of the renovated hostel is expected to significantly improve the living conditions of students at the institution and further strengthen support for inclusive education in Ondo State.
