In a bold statement of equity and empowerment, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive development with the unveiling of a state-of-the-art educational and residential facility for visually impaired children in Lagos. A renewed wave of social investment swept through Surulere on Tuesday as the newly constructed and fully furnished complex at the Bethesda Home and School for the Blind was officially commissioned, marking a significant milestone in the drive to leave no one behind.

The expansive project comprising 16 classrooms, dormitories, staff rooms, a Braille computer training centre, a library, and a sound studio, among other facilities was delivered by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs). It stands 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.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Princess 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.

?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 features accessibility ramps and inclusive design elements, in keeping with OSSAP-SDGs? policy of ensuring that all public infrastructure supports persons with disabilities.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, 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, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr Oreoluwa Omowunmi Awokoya, 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.?

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, also 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.

Princess 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.

Other speakers at the event, including the Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area, Hon. Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf; the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan; and former Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr Bola Shodipo, all praised the initiative, insisting that it would go a long way in alleviating the plight of the beneficiaries and restoring hope.

With the commissioning of the facility, the government reaffirms its pledge to provide equal opportunities for all Nigerians, regardless of physical ability?bringing the vision of a more compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable society one step closer to reality.

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