Tag Day

White Cane Day: Ministry donates 100 canes to visually impaired in FCT
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Cane
Abuja, Oct. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has donated 100 white canes to the visually impaired in the FCT to commemorate this year’s International Day of White Cane.
The Supervising Minister, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, made the donation on Monday in Abuja in collaboration with the Nigeria Association for the Blind (NAB).
The minister, who was represented by the Director of Rehabilitation from the ministry, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe, said 40 white canes would be given to the School of the Blind, Jabi.
She also said 40 white canes would be given to Government Secondary School (GSS), Kwali, and 20 white canes to NAB, FCT chapter.
“As part of the Ministry’s efforts to make the visually impaired marketable in labour market and encourage Braille Literacy, we established Braille Press and Libraries in six locations in the country.
“I am using this opportunity to call on professionals in Braille Education and Library who know how these centres can be utilised to partner with the Ministry.
“The significance of Braiile Literacy to the independence of the Blind in any society cannot be over emphasised,” Abubakar said.
She, however, called on the beneficiaries of the device to put them into use by ensuring that they move with them always, adding that road users and pedestrians should be alerted and provide necessary assistance to persons using Cane on the road.
The Chairman of NAB, FCT chapter, Mr Obinna EKujureonye, said the day was to demonstrate the significance of the white canes to the blind and promote awareness on the independence and contributions of impaired individuals to socio-economic life of the country.
The Principal, School of the Blind, Mrs Regina Dunge, called on government to make the environment more conducive for the visually impaired in the society.
The Chairman of the Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities, Mr Suleiman Abdulmumuni, also called on the Federal Government to improve the welfare of Persons with Disabilities to overcome their numerous challenges.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, said the ministry attached importance towards the welfare of the visually impaired through various programmes and activities.
Represented by Mr Idris Abubakar, the Director Economic Services, Anagbogu, said the ministry had distributed various kinds of Assistive Devices and Economic Empowerments tools to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), including white canes of different varieties.
“Today’s event which is largely educative and information will no doubt awaken the consciousness to our responsibility towards the disabled especially the visually impaired and engender greater involvement in promoting and protecting their Welfare,” she said.
Anagbogu said the blind like other law abiding citizens are also entitled to use infrastructure provided for the common good, adding that they need to use the road and move freely to earn a living and engage in other social activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that White Cane Safety Day is a national observance in the United States, celebrated on Oct. 15 of each year since 1964.
The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane. (NAN)
OEO/AAB/MST
Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola