LAGOSS/Nigeria: The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), in partnership with the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), Lagos State Chapter, has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusivity, accessibility, and equal opportunities for persons with visual impairments.
The commitment was made in Lagos on Wednesday as the world commemorated the 2025 International White Cane and Safety Day, themed “White Cane, My Identity: Promoting an Inclusive and Safe Culture for the Blind.” The event brought together more than 500 visually impaired persons, advocates, and corporate partners to celebrate resilience and push for stronger inclusion policies.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Temitope Omogbemi, Deputy Manager, Research, Literacy and Programmes at BSN, said the organisation remains dedicated to ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical ability, can access the Word of God.
“At the Bible Society of Nigeria, we make the Scriptures available in multiple formats so that nobody is deprived of access,” Omogbemi said. “We produce Braille Bibles free of charge and run inclusive programmes such as the ‘You Can Be Their Eyes’ quiz competition to support education and empowerment for the blind.”
He urged both government and private institutions to adopt inclusive policies and harness the creativity and potential of persons with visual impairments.
“The blind community is filled with talented individuals excelling in various fields,” he said. “Inclusion is not a privilege, it is a right that must be protected and enforced.”
Also speaking, Mr. Adeola Aina, Chairman of the 2025 International White Cane and Safety Day Planning Committee, called on governments to fully implement existing disability rights laws, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the National Disability Prohibition Act (2018), and the Lagos State Special People’s Law.
“We are calling on government at all levels to give practical effect to these laws — from education to employment, healthcare, and infrastructure,” Aina said. “Accessibility and inclusion are not acts of charity; they are rights that must be guaranteed.”
Representing one of the corporate partners, Mrs. Kelechi Ogbuaku, Deputy General Manager and Head of Commercial Banking at Zenith Bank Plc, reaffirmed the bank’s support for inclusive development.
“At Zenith Bank, we believe in ability even in disability,” Ogbuaku stated. “We are proud to stand with the visually impaired community and will continue to promote inclusion both within our organisation and across society.”
Chairman of the NAB Lagos Chapter, Mr. Babatunde Safiu, commended BSN, Zenith Bank, and Sterling Bank for their consistent support, noting that the white cane symbolises independece, guidance, and empowerment for the blind.
“The white cane is more than a mobility tool, it represents our freedom and confidence to navigate the world,” Safiu said. “We urge the public to respect the white cane and, when offering help, always ask before assisting.”
