CIA disability rights organisation, the Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB), has urged all tiers of government to intensify efforts toward improving access to education and employment opportunities for visually impaired Nigerians.
In a statement marking White Cane and Safety Day, CITAB’s Executive Chairman, Jolomi Fenemigho, emphasised that the annual event serves as a reminder of the strength and unity of the blind community.
He described the white cane as a symbol of “determination, perseverance, and fortitude,” rather than an object of pity.
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Fenemigho lamented the persistent gap in educational standards for students with visual impairments and called on the Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB), and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UEBC) to collaborate with disability-focused organisations to enhance learning experiences.
He further highlighted the high rate of unemployment among visually impaired Nigerians and appealed to the government to introduce periodic recruitment exercises within the civil service to promote inclusion.
CITAB reiterated its call for the enforcement of accessibility standards and genuine engagement with the needs of the visually impaired community, stressing that inclusion must go beyond policy statements to tangible action.
