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A
BRIEF ON DR. DAVID MATTHEW
Born into the Christian
family of Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Sule Okpe at Ojuwo
Iga village of Olamaboro Local Government Area
of Kogi state in Nigeria on the 1st of October,
1960, David was declared blind in 1968 at the
Guiness Eye Clinic of Ahmadu Bello University
Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria. In April
of 1970 he joined the School for Blind Children.
Between 1975 and 1980,
he had his secondary school education at Panyam,
Plateau State, Nigeria. Remarkably, during this
time he was made a school prefect in '79 and
was prominent amongst the student evangelism
team to villages. He was also Choirmaster for
three years despite his challenges.
In 1982, David bagged
a National Diploma in Special Education from
the Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna and got a job
thereafter was integrated teacher at the Nakam
Memorial Secondary School, Panyam, where he
founded both the Staff Braille Club and the
Recording Club for the Blind.
A year later, he returned
to the Kaduna Polytechnic in pursuit of a Post
Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation - a program
he graduated from in 1985 honorably.
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In October, 1985, David
started a unit for the teaching of blind children
at Christian in Many Lands (CMML) Special
school, Iyale in Dekina Local Government Area
of Kogi State and on the 4th of August, 1986
he became the Principal of the School till date
running a joint primary-secondary school programme
leading to the award of Senior School Certificate.
Besides Special Education
and Rehabilitation Certificates, David has trained
and holds a Masters in Public Administration,
B. A and Maters in Religious Education as well
as a Doctorate (PhD) in Religious Eductaion.
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Happily married to Deborah
and blessed with a son Ilemona John born on
the 27th of May 1999, David is a founding member
of Christian Rural and Urban Development Association
of Nigeria (CRUDAN), a founding member and President
of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind
Incorporated, founding member and President
of Alimo Prison Ministries, Founder and Proprietor
of John Abah Memorial Special School, Ojuwo
Iga.
David also serves as the
Chairman of the Joint National association of
Persons with Disabilities, Kogi State Chapter
and has served as Chairman, Board of Directors
of Iyale Community Bank which has now metamorphosed
into Micro Finance Bank.
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