By Leonard Okachie
The Abia State Disability Commission, on Tuesday, donated 100 white canes to the School for the Blind, Umuahia, to promote mobility and inclusion for the visually impaired.
The Chairman of the commission, Mr David Anyaele, said the gesture fulfilled Gov. Alex Otti’s campaign promise to support people with disabilities.
“Every resource that is required to operationalise that mandate, he is providing it to us in order to ensure that no Abia resident is left behind by reason of disability,” he said.
Anyaele, who has a personal experience of disability, shared a harrowing story of losing his hands in a rebel attack in Sierra Leone.
He urged students to stay strong, saying “disability doesn’t limit potential”.
“Let not your heart be troubled. The future is bright. Why I say so, it’s because you may say, hey, am I going to see?
“The President of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, Mr Stanley Onyebuchi, is from this state and he is doing very well,” he said.
The Principal, Mrs Ngozi Emelike, thanked the commission for the “quick intervention”, calling it a reassurance of government support.
“Mobility stick is something that is very important to the visually impaired.
“I was asked to write; I wrote and I submitted. Thank God they are here today. They did not waste time,” Emelike said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that event featured distribution of mobility sticks to students and virtually impaired staff.
(NAN)
