The lot of people with disability have been brought into focus at an academic community lecture where parents and the society at large have been urged to love and understand that Children of suchlike, are human beings who have no control over their disability. A Professor of Intellectual Disability, Professor Tolulope Eni-Olorunda who made the plea said their acceptance by Parents and the Society would help them to adjust emotionally, psychologically and socially, as well as, help them to live independent lives. Professor Eni-Olorunda was speaking while presenting the 74th inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta at the institution’s Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Hall on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023. She also called on the Nigerian government to ensure that the Disability Bill passed into law by President Mohammed Buhari in 2019 should be implemented accordingly so that Children with intellectual disability could have enabling environment to live independently and enjoy their rights to education. The inaugural Lecturer who disclosed that there are over 27 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria stated that it was abnormal to refer to such people as ” physically challenged persons” , instead they should be referred to as ” persons with special needs” or “exceptional Children”. The Lecture titled: ” They Are Humans Too: Give Them A Chance”, would be the first to be presented since the assumption of office of the seventh Vice- Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde in April, 2023. The occasion was a meeting ground for both the gown and the town, as eminent personalities from both sides were in attendance including Principal Officers of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
