By Jonathan Ugbal
Students of the Special Education Secondary School, SESS Calabar which caters for deaf and non-verbal students claimed the top two positions at the art fair organized by Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, BRCi on Thursday as part of the Law Day celebration in Cross River State.
Prince Ozar Ite, and Blessing Peter Solomon; both of SESS, emerged first and second respectively, in the competition, which is supported by the French Embassy.
“Equity demands that we provide special solutions to address the civic needs of vulnerable groups,” Eseoghene Edoja Ibor, the Executive Director, BRCi said while welcoming sudents, teachers, and stakeholders to the art fair, which forms part of the activities for this year’s celebration, adding that; “today is about what we can achieve together. It is about inclusion.”
The actual competition held on October 1st, with around two dozen students from SESS, Army Day Secondary School, Hillcrest Schools, and Bridge-End High School, all in Calabar, participating in drawing and other creative competitions, much to the delight of Mrs. Ibor who could not hide her admiration for the SESS students.
“I saw the talent in them, and I learnt they don’t even have a fine arts teacher. It is amazing – the way they drew, the painting, the artworks they produced. It shows everyone has a talent, and with hard work and consistency, one can get to where they want to be in life,” she said.
Curated by their partner, Nana Arts Initiative, the creative works are currently exhibited at the Professor Bene Madunagu hall at BRCi with proceeds to be shared by the students and their schools.
“We are going to publish the proceeds from the sale of the artworks,” James Ibor Esq. the principal partner at Basic Rights Law Partners told those gathered.
READ ALSO: Disability Rights To Take Center Stage At 2025 Law Day Celebration In Cross River
Other Winners
While Prince and Blessing have won NGN30,000 and NGN20,000 respectively for their school, Chidimma Chikezie Emmanuel of Bridge-End and Keshon Archibong of Hillcrest emerged joint third to earn their institutions NGN15,000 each.
Mbang Efa Ofem of Army Day placed fourth while Gem Joseph Edem of Hillcrest (5th), and Miracle E. Robson of SESS (6th) rounded up the top slots.
However, a second artwork by Mbang Efa Ofem was also rated good enough to place 7th, leaving the teenager as the only one with two entries in the winning eight.
Lectures
Victomira Ebiti Esq lectured attendees on the basics and principles of child protection in school, home, and elsewhere.
The legal practitioner tutored the students on their rights and cautioned parents, guardians, and teachers against corporal punishment.
On his part, Udoh Michael Ben, a sign language expert at the University of Calabar, who served as the initial interpreter, taught those in attendance the English Alphabets, and everyday communication in sign language.
Mr. Udoh disclosed that the French invented sign language, even though he was interpreting in English.
Also, Hannah Bassey of Nana Arts initiative took time to explain the details behind the creative works of the students who had participated in the competition.
A workshop seeking to operationalize the Cross River State’s Disability Rights Law 2021 is slated for Friday (tomorrow) with the Cross River State Government, civil society, and other stakeholders billed to attend.
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