The Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB), yesterday, bemoaned the rising cost of training visually-impaired persons in Nigeria.
The group called for partnership and sponsorship of students to reduce the financial burden on the Centre.
Chairman of the Executive Council of FNSB, Arit Tunde-Imoyo, made the call while announcing plans for the 70th anniversary celebration of the centre at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos.
The theme for the celebration is ‘Vision without Eyes: Striving for Excellence’.
According to Tunde-Imoyo, over the last seven decades, FNSB has remained committed to the mission of empowering visually-impaired adolescents and adults through rehabilitation, education and skills acquisition.
From its inception in 1955 to the present day, she noted, the centre has been a beacon of hope for hundreds of men and women who, despite visual disabilities, now live with dignity and independence.
She added that, in recent years, the centre had intensified efforts to adapt to the changing needs of its community by expanding vocational offerings, deepened social reintegration programmes, and continuing to champion inclusivity in education and employment.
However, the cost of delivering impactful rehabilitation continues to rise.
It now costs over N1.5 million per trainee yearly to provide the residential, educational, mobility and vocational training that equips the beneficiaries for full participation in society, she revealed.
“This year’s theme reflects the resilience and excellence demonstrated daily by our trainees, our staff, and the larger blind community in Nigeria,” Tunde-Imoyo said.
On plans for next year, she said: “Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, we have a bold vision to expand our impact with plans to construct a purpose-built ICT Centre and upgrade our digital training equipment to equip our trainees with relevant tech skills for the modern workplace. We also plan to acquire a new Coaster bus to ease student transportation and facilitate outreach activities.
“In the pipeline is the launch of a Basic Eye Clinic, in collaboration with a partner to offer early diagnosis, referral and preventive care, as well as renovate and expand our hostel facilities to ensure a safe, dignified and inclusive living environment.”
Chairman for the anniversary, Oluyemisi Daramola, lamented the sorry state of the road leading to the centre, stating that FNSB was not only celebrating its legacy but also intentionally building the future.
She said: “Our 70th anniversary activities are carefully designed to spotlight our impact, engage stakeholders, reconnect with our alumni, and strengthen public and private sector partnerships.
“We cannot achieve this alone. We invite the media, the corporate world, development partners, alumni and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to join us. Whether through sponsorships, amplification, volunteering or donations, your involvement can create a lasting change.”
The anniversary will include thanksgivings in church and mosque, gala night, white cane day, community outreach and a fitness awareness walk promoting early detection and public education on blindness.
