Dele Olaosebikan
THE Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, OyoSUBEB has revealed that five hundred and forty-five (545) candidates with various forms of disability will be interviewed by the Board on 10 and 11 September 2024.
This was made known on Friday (yesterday) by the Chairman of the Board of OyoSUBEB, Dr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, during a visit by the Oyo State Agency for People With Disabilities led by the Director-General, Barr. Ayodele Adekanmbi.
The visit was aimed at concluding arrangements for the forthcoming interview exercise for people with disabilities by the Board.
Recall that the Board fixed 10 and 11 September as dates to interview applicants with disabilities, while caregivers were fixed for 12 and 13 September 2024.
Dr Adeniran said candidates from Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, and Oyo will be interviewed on 10 September 2024, while candidates from Ibadan main city and Ibadan less city will be interviewed on 11 September 2024.
During the visit, Dr Adeniran stated the Board’s commitment to implementing a reasonable employment quota for people living with disabilities in the ongoing recruitment exercise by the Board. 
He said though the Board is constrained by other criteria for recruitment such as merit, gender, local government spread, etc, the welfare of those with disabilities is key to the present administration.
Adeniran said, “The board is committed to prioritising persons with disabilities and will continue to do so. We have enough Special schools for them to teach. There are 22 special basic schools across the 3 senatorial districts in Oyo State.
“The Engr. Seyi Makinde-led administration is committed to making life better for them without any form of discrimination or rejection”.
Also speaking, Barr. Adekanmbi applauded the Board for implementing an all-inclusive exercise, aimed at strengthening the workforce of the state.
He said with the assistance of the Board, arrangements have been made for the visually impaired in the areas of providing brailed question papers and tools required by them to participate in the interview independently.
Adekanmbi said the Agency has also made arrangements for the deaf and the physically challenged.
Adekanmbi said the inclusion of his agency by the Board has encouraged full participation and inclusion of PWDs in the recruitment of teachers, while it has also increased awareness of disability rights and issues across the board.
The Director-General took members of the Board through some basic concepts of disability while also highlighting some of the challenges being faced by persons with disabilities in society.
He also applauded the state government for some of its achievements towards inclusion such as the passage and signing of the State Disability Law, which established the Agency for People With Disabilities.
Mr. Adekanmbi said the panel will be headed by Prof. Akolade from the University of Ibadan, Mr. Temitope Aluko and Evang. Olukayode will be assisted by four sign language interpreters and wheelchair assistants.
He said, “To make the arrangements easy, the candidates will be divided into three clusters: blind, deaf and physically disabled”.
Also present at the meeting were the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs. Olaide Ladipo, Special Assistant to the Governor on Disabilities, alongside top management members of the board.
Eighteen-Eleven Media