Osun Visually Impaired Association demands jobs, support from State government

The Osun State branch of the Nigerian Association of the Blind has appealed to the State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola to put them into consideration in the recruitment processes in the State.

Members of the association made this known in a request as part of activities to mark the 2022 International Came Day on Wednesday in Osogbo.

While asking the State government to ensure that his administration ensures the domestication of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Prohibition Act Nigeria, the virtually-impaired citizens also urged the governor to grant them scholarships.

They also maintained that they could not be relegated to begging for alms.

The Chairman of the State association, Akinola Adekunle, speaking during a lecture on the theme: “The Virtually Impaired and the Safety Cane,” commended the State government for the support they have received.

He also urged the government to accelerate efforts on the domestication of the disability act.

“We thank Governor Oyetola for what he has been doing but we need more support. The National Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act has provided solutions to our challenges and that’s why we are calling on our governor to write his name in gold in the few days he has in office by ensuring that this bill is passed into law in Osun.

“We also want Nigerians to support the blind by offering them assistance in the public places. We want them to know that we are part of the society and we have a lot to offer. There is ability in our disability and we want the government to provide job opportunities for blind people that are qualified,” he said.

Adekunle maintained that there were a lot of educated people among them.

“We have lawyers, journalists and other professionals among us and all they need is encouragement and support. In Osun, we don’t have blind schools, we need one,” Adekunle added.

Led by their guides, they held a procession from the Government House Annex at Oke-Fia to the Technical College, Oke-Fia, Osogbo.

The youth wing of the blind association also held a friendly football match with their counterparts from Oyo State at the Technical College football pitch which saw the team from Oyo defeating their Osun counterparts with two unreplied goals.