Cynthia Ezegwu
The National Association of the Blind (NAB) has called on government at all levels to provide greater access to digital training, assistive technology, and ICT support for its members across Nigeria.
National President of the association, Mr. Stanley Onyebuchi, made the appeal in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday during the commemoration of the 2025 International White Cane Safety Day, themed “Vision Beyond Sight.”
Onyebuchi commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for promoting inclusivity through its ARISE Agenda but urged both federal and state authorities to prioritise empowerment programmes for visually impaired persons.
“I want to express our gratitude to the Akwa Ibom State Government for the inclusion of people living with disabilities in governance. We also demand adequate training and ICT support for our members,” he said.
The event was organised by the Akwa Ibom State branch of NAB, in partnership with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and sponsored by Total Inclusion Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank, and First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, described the White Cane Day as “a celebration of courage, strength, and achievement” of blind and visually impaired persons, noting that “sight is a gift, but vision is a choice.”
She praised Governor Umo Eno for his inclusive policies, saying his administration “truly reflects the heart of a shepherd — one that sees ability, not disability, and recognises every Akwa Ibomite as a stakeholder in the ARISE Agenda.”
Chief Executive Officer of Total Inclusion Limited, Mr. David Okon, said the white cane represents independence, dignity, and self-reliance for blind persons, while stressing the importance of proper training for its effective use.
“It is good to have a white cane, but without proper training and usage, it is useless to you. Each local government should employ mobility and orientation officers who will assist blind persons in familiarising themselves with their surroundings,” he said.
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Okon, who is also visually impaired and a senior director with First Bank, urged members of the public to stop removing manhole covers and called on government agencies to close open drainages, warning that such hazards endanger visually impaired persons.
Akwa Ibom State Chairman of NAB, Mr. Nsikak Udoh, in his address, said the 2025 celebration signified a renewed commitment to accessibility and empowerment through collaboration and action.
He said society must remove both physical and attitudinal barriers that continue to limit blind persons, adding that “Nigeria must move from policy to practice and from intentions to impact.”
Speaking virtually from Australia, one of the resource persons, Mr. Ubong Udo, emphasised the need for education and accessible learning tools, questioning the government’s commitment to providing equitable opportunities for the blind.
“Our problem is not that we are blind, but the inability of the sighted to recognise our opinions. We want an Akwa Ibom where employment and education are accessible to all — without discrimination or protest,” he said.