Members of the Nigeria Association of the Blind, Edo State Chapter, have called on all tiers of government to make education free and create conducive environment for them to move around and do their legitimate business.
The members who embarked on a road walk to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Edo State Council in celebration of National White Cane Day, urged the Edo State government to assent to the Disability Bill that has been passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Chairman of the association, Evangelist Lucky Imafidon, expressed gratitude to the Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki for his magnanimity to people living with disabilities, especially those with visual impairment but urged him to do more .
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki. We want to tell him to do more for us especially in the area of education, we need bursary for people living with visual impairment”.
Speaking further, he said: “The relevant authorities should provide free education for us from primary to university level, and also the Disability Bill should be assented to so that it can become a law that will protect our interest and welfare. We want a Disabilities Commission to be created that will take care of our needs.”
One of the visually impaired persons, David Iwuala pleaded with government to create an environment that can help them live with minimal assistance.
He said the White Cane Day is significant because it shows that the person holding the White Cane have visual impairment and pleaded with Nigerians to always assist those with visual impairment.
“We want drivers and other road users to always assist people with visual impairment anywhere on the road. In Edo State, it has become increasingly dangerous to move around and that is why we came up with ‘Safety in an Unsafe Environment’. It is a call to action; those saddled with the responsibility of making laws or creating policies should do so with the aim of assisting people with visual impairment,” he stressed.
