…Kicks against stigmatisation
In the spirit of love, care and inclusivity, the You Matter Foundation has extended her support and empowerment programme to the visually-impaired persons and the blind community in Delta State.
The gesture, which the beneficiaries described as the first of its kind in the state, included scholarship awards to four visually impaired students as well as the donation of food items and assistive devices to the blind community.
The four visually-impaired students are studying in different universities, and the scholarship awards cover their tuition and academic needs until graduation
At the event held on Tuesday in Asaba, tagged, ‘Mission to the Visually Impaired’ Tobore Oborevwori, the founder of the foundation and wife of the Delta State Governor, distributed several assistive items like Laptop computers with screen readers, braille papers, slates and stylus, talking calculators, tactile learning sets, digital audio recorders, and talking watches and clocks among other materials to aid their daily learning and independence.
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The food items included 120 bags of rice, 100 tubers of yams, palm oil, garri noodles, salt, custard and other household provisions to support the beneficiaries and their families.
Oborevwori said that the programme was designed to extend love and support to the visually impaired and promote inclusivity through education, empowerment, and care.
She explained that the foundation has been actively supporting children with autism, special needs, and visual impairment by providing educational and vocational materials to enhance their learning and confidence.
The society must move away from stigmatising the visually impaired and instead recognise their intelligence, potential, and courage, she admonished, adding that, “Too often, the visually impaired are regarded as lesser members of society, denied access to quality education, and sometimes treated as second-class citizens. But today, we are here to change that narrative.”
She encouraged visually impaired students to strive for excellence and urged parents not to lose hope in their children’s potential.
“The visually impaired have a special place in God’s creation and deserve every opportunity to thrive. Let us work with them by sharing knowledge, fighting poverty, and opening doors of opportunity,” she said.
She encouraged them to pursue excellence, just as she described education as a tool of empowerment and equality.
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Oborevwori commended the leadership of the Association of the Blind for their organisation and resilience and expressed optimism that the engagement would inspire renewed confidence and purpose among members of the association.
Lawrentta Ogbedo, director-general of the You Matter Charity Foundation, noted that there was a reaffirmation of the foundation’s commitment to inclusivity and social justice, adding that the outreach demonstrates the right of every person to belong and participate fully in the development of society.
“The visually impaired are part of our community, and this initiative is our mother’s contribution to bridging the gap and ensuring no one is left behind in the journey of development. Food symbolises love and care, and today we reaffirm that you are seen, valued, and loved,” Ogbedo said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Angela Ekure, a visually impaired broadcaster with the Delta State Broadcasting Service, expressed deep appreciation to the governor’s wife for her generosity and compassion.
She noted that it was the first time the visually impaired community had received such meaningful attention from a First Lady in the state. She saw the scholarships and donations are life-changing gestures that would ease their academic and financial challenges.
