The Federal Government has inaugurated a world-class educational and residential facility for visually impaired children in Lagos, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive development under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The newly built complex, located at the Bethesda Home and School for the Blind, was unveiled by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
The facility includes 16 fully furnished classrooms, dormitories, staff quarters, a Braille computer training centre, a library, a sound studio, and other support structures designed to create a safe and accessible learning environment.
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Desmond Utomwen, Special Assistant on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communication, described the project as a “significant milestone in the drive to leave no one behind,” aligning with the vision of the 2030 Agenda.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, called the facility “a symbol of compassion, inclusion, and collective progress.”
She emphasized that the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his administration’s focus on inclusive governance.
“This Home reaffirms our shared humanity and commitment to support the most vulnerable,” she said. “It is a place of refuge, learning, and growth for children with visual impairments.”
Orelope-Adefulire noted that the facility advances multiple SDGs, including: SDG 1 – no poverty, SDG 3 – good health and well-being, SDG 4 – quality education, SDG 10 – reduced inequalities and SDG 11 – sustainable cities and communities.
She highlighted the importance of accessibility in design, with ramps and inclusive features ensuring that no child is left behind.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, was represented by Barrakat Odunuga-Bakare, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing.
He commended OSSAP-SDGs for its continued efforts and pledged federal support for the school.
In her welcome remarks, Oreoluwa Awokoya, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on SDGs, described the facility as “hope made visible and inclusion made real.”
“This is more than just infrastructure—it is foresight in action. It’s a place where ability rises above disability and dignity is upheld,” she said.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, praised the project as a reflection of the state’s commitment to inclusive and quality education.
Orelope-Adefulire also recognized the longstanding contributions of the Bethesda Home for the Blind and its staff, applauding their dedication to nurturing generations of visually impaired children.
Addressing the students, she said: “You are not defined by your sight, but by the strength of your spirit. The world needs your light—shine on.”
She concluded by assuring stakeholders that OSSAP-SDGs would continue to champion inclusive education and infrastructure to meet the nation’s sustainable development targets.
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