Safer roads, accessible public infrastructure and equal opportunities remain major concerns for persons with visual impairments in Lagos State.
These issues took centre stage as more than six hundred visually impaired persons marched through Lagos to commemorate the 2026 International White Cane and Safety Day, calling for greater inclusion, improved welfare and respect for their rights.
It was an atmosphere of solidarity, celebration and advocacy as more than six hundred members of the Nigeria Association of the Blind marched from King’s College Annex, Victoria Island, to Our Saviour’s Church Hall, near Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
The walk, held under the theme “White Cane: Navigating Without Limits,” highlighted the importance of the white cane as a tool for independent mobility, dignity and safety.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of the Blind, Mr. Babatunde Safiu, emphasised the need for accessible public infrastructure, public awareness and stronger government support for persons with visual impairments.
In a previously published statement, Safiu described the white cane as more than a walking aid, saying, “The white cane is not just a walking aid; it is our identity.”
He urged the public to ask for consent before offering assistance and called for an environment that enables visually impaired persons to move around freely.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Joint Associations of Persons with Disabilities in Lagos, Mr. Lukmon Abolariwon Salami, identified stigma and society’s failure to accept and integrate persons with disabilities as major challenges, calling for attitudinal change and public reorientation.
A participant, Mrs Catherine. Achibong, urged the state government and members of the public to intensify efforts to address the challenges facing visually impaired persons and improve their welfare.
Meanwhile, the event’s organising committee called for stronger implementation of disability laws. In published comments on the 2026 celebration, committee chairman Adeola Aina said the five per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities often remained unenforced, weakening efforts to achieve inclusion.
The event attracted disability groups, dignitaries, corporate representatives, sponsors and officials of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs.
The participants urged the government, businesses and the public to translate awareness into practical action through safer roads, accessible facilities, employment opportunities and improved support for persons with visual impairments.
By Kalu Moses
