Shina Peller Marks 50th Birthday At Pacelli School, Demands Sweeping Policy Reforms For Special Needs Children

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Raji Adebayo

Former House of Representatives member and the Ayedero of Yorubaland, Hon. Shina Peller, on Saturday celebrated his golden jubilee with the visually impaired students of the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children in Lagos, using the occasion to issue a strong call for the government to implement expansive, robust policies for children with disabilities.

Addressing a gathering of students, staff, and journalists, Peller described the visit as the most honorable and significant part of his milestone celebrations.

He revealed that his initial foray into politics was largely driven by the systemic neglect individuals with special needs face in Nigeria.

Pointing to this glaring gap, he challenged all levels of government to widen their mandates and create structured institutional support systems to ensure special needs children are adequately cared for and empowered to achieve their dreams.

Delivering a powerful message of hope to the cheering pupils, Peller drew a profound distinction between physical sight and inner drive.

“There is a huge difference between having eyesight and having a vision,” Peller told the students. “It might be impaired today, but I want you to know that it does not disturb you from having a vision. Your vision shall never be blurred; it will be as clear as crystal regardless of your situation.”

Backing his advocacy with direct action, the politician announced the induction of three additional students—two boys and one girl—into his personal scholarship scheme.

The philanthropic initiative, which he proudly noted has been active since 2013, significantly predates his entry into formal politics.

To inspire the current cohort, he highlighted the journey of the program’s pioneer beneficiary, Samson, who began his educational journey at the Pacelli School and has now advanced to study at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

The commemorative visit was also marked by vibrant festivities. Peller provided an abundance of food and essential provisions, completely transforming the school’s atmosphere by bringing in a live music setup featuring a keyboardist and DJ Funky Bee.

To further elevate the mood, he sponsored a spirited dance competition for the children, awarding the top three dancers with cash prizes of ₦50,000, ₦30,000, and ₦20,000 respectively.

While the celebration offered crucial financial relief and a massive morale boost, the daily reality for the 63-year-old institution remains a daunting economic battle.

The school’s Principal, Sister Agnes Chinyere, offered a sobering perspective on the severe financial strains of managing the facility. Established in 1962, Pacelli has operated on a strictly tuition-free basis for over six decades, relying entirely on the unpredictable charity of the public to cater to 150 students and a dedicated staff of 52.

Sister Agnes emphasized that educating visually impaired children requires highly specialized, predominantly imported materials that come at staggering costs. “Taking care of visually impaired children in a real sense is not really easy; the materials they use in learning are very expensive because most of them are foreign,” she explained.

In addition, she said, “Just to get a basic slate and stylus—the equivalent of a pen and paper that they use for writing Braille—costs about ₦15,000 for just one. And we have 150 students who must all have it to be able to learn in the class.”

Despite these profound economic hurdles and the constant fatigue of relying on public donations, the staff’s commitment has yielded remarkable results.

The principal highlighted the extraordinary resilience of the students, noting that the school boasts a proud legacy of distinguished alumni, ranging from successful lawyers to the internationally acclaimed musician and producer, Cobhams Asuquo.

Shina Peller’s 50th birthday stands as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of consistent, personal philanthropy. However, as the Ayedero of Yorubaland rightly highlighted, until the government steps in to establish a structured safety net and dedicated educational policies, the survival and success of these brilliant minds will continue to depend entirely on the unwavering, yet overstretched, goodwill of the public.