The Federal Government has commissioned a state-of-the-art educational and residential facility for the visually impaired children in Lagos, as part of efforts to strengthen inclusivity, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs.
Desmond Utomwen, the Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, in a statement in Abuja, revealed that the newly constructed and fully furnished complex at the Bethesda Home and School for the Blind is expected to make “a significant milestone in the drive to leave no one behind”.
The project comprised 16 classrooms, dormitories, staff rooms, a Braille computer training centre, a library, and a sound studio, among other facilities delivered by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, described the facility as “a symbol of compassion, inclusion, and collective progress,” noting that the intervention reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She noted that it will stand as a beacon of inclusive learning, accessibility, and dignity for Nigeria’s blind and visually impaired children, aligning with key priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This Home reaffirms our shared humanity and commitment to leave no one behind, particularly the most vulnerable in our society. This is a place of refuge, a centre of learning, growth, and dignity for children with visual impairments,” she stated.
The Presidential Adviser added that the facility speaks directly to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 on ending poverty, SDG 3 on good health and well-being, SDG 4 on quality education, SDG 10 on reduced inequalities, and SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities.
“Through this, Bethesda Home for the Blind, we are nurturing dreams. We are restoring dignity. We are strengthening the wings of those who were never meant to be grounded. When children with visual impairments are given the right environment—safe accommodation, accessible education, skilled caregivers—they flourish.” Orelope-Adefulire declared.
The project also features accessibility ramps and inclusive design elements, in keeping with OSSAP-SDGs’ policy of ensuring that all public infrastructure supports persons with disabilities.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, who was represented by Barrakat Odunuga-Bakare, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing, commended the project. He expressed confidence that the Federal Government, through OSSAP-SDGs, would continue to support the Home and School to ensure the children are not left behind.
In her welcome address, Oreoluwa Awokoya, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Sustainable Development Goals, described the facility as hope made visible and inclusion made real.
“What we celebrate here today is more than brick and mortar; it is a sanctuary of vision, built not on sight, but on foresight—a place where ability rises beyond disability, and where the dignity of every human life is not only acknowledged, but amplified. As a sister and friend to one of Nigeria’s finest public servants, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, and a proud daughter of this very State, I stand here with a shared commitment: to push beyond tokenism, and towards real, measurable inclusion for people living with disabilities.”
She added, “Bethesda Home reminds us that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is not about slogans; it’s about building structures that ensure no one is left behind—especially not those who have often been kept furthest from opportunity.”
Also speaking at the occasion, Mobolaji Ogunlende, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, lauded the initiative, stating that it aligns perfectly with the State Government’s values.
“This milestone underscores our administration’s commitment to promoting inclusion, sustainability, quality education, and renewed hope for all,” Ogunlende said.
Orelope-Adefulire further acknowledged the longstanding dedication of the Bethesda Home for the Blind and its staff, whose tireless service has supported generations of visually impaired children. She had special words for the students themselves:
“You are not defined by the limitations of your sight but by the strength of your spirit. The world needs your light. Shine on.”
She assured stakeholders that OSSAP-SDGs would continue to prioritise inclusive education and social infrastructure nationwide as part of efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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