The Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons Nigeria, Mr Timothy Akano, has called for increased inclusion of visually impaired persons in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
He said visually impaired persons possessed untapped potential that could contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s ICT development if given the right opportunities.
Akano made the call during an outreach to students of the Federal School for the Blind, Oshodi on Friday as part of activities to mark his birthday.
Speaking at the event, he emphasised the need for deliberate efforts to equip visually impaired students with relevant digital skills.
According to him, access to ICT tools, training and mentorship remains critical to enabling them compete favourably in the sector.
New Horizons Nigeria is an ICT Training and Exam testing institute with over 20 years cognitive experience in Nigeria.
It has online and instructor-led trainings for individuals and corporate learning both at its training locations and on-site, and also partners by providing education services to Secondary and Higher Institutions.
‘There is a need to provide the visually impaired with the right skills and resources to enable them realise their potential.
‘With the right support systems, they can perform just as well as anyone else in areas such as data analysis, artificial intelligence and software development’, Akano said.
He noted that inclusive policies must be matched with effective implementation to address the challenges faced by the physically challenged.
‘Policies supporting inclusion already exist, but implementation remains a major gap.
‘What is required is sustained commitment from stakeholders to ensure that these policies translate into real opportunities’, he said.
The New Horizons boss urged organisations to adopt inclusive employment practices by creating opportunities for the physically challenged.
‘If more organisations are intentional about inclusion, it will go a long way in addressing unemployment among vulnerable groups’, he said.
Akano said his engagement with the Federal School for the Blind, which he adopted three years ago, was part of efforts to demonstrate what targeted support could achieve.
He said that his organisation’s interventions at the school had focused on provision of computers, internet access and other ICT tools, as well as training for students.
Akano cited the example of a student who, after undergoing ICT training, was now teaching others in the school, describing it as evidence of the multiplier effect of such initiatives.
According to him, empowering one individual can create a ripple effect that benefits many others within the community.
He stressed that society must shift from viewing physically challenged persons through the lens of limitation to recognising their abilities.
‘No individual is without value. What is often lacking is the enabling environment for people to thrive’, he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders at the event also highlighted the importance of sustained investment in inclusive education and digital access for vulnerable groups.
Akano noted that strengthening ICT capacity among visually impaired students would improve their employability and promote greater inclusion in the digital economy.
