The Nigeria School of the Blind (NSB) has trained no fewer than 2,000 visually impaired persons (VIPs) in vocational skills.
At a briefing to herald NSB’s 60th anniversary in Lagos, its chairman, Mrs Biola Agbaje, said the VIP’s were trained in computing, tye and dye, daily skill living, mobility skills, operational skills for job placement, teaching and pastoral care.
The school, she said, does after care service for its ex-trainees with the creation of a Cooperative and Thrift Society.
According to her, N1.9 million has been earmarked to provide start-up soft loans for the trainees or for sponsorship to return to school.
Mrs Agbaje said the school is open to more support and partnership for the next 60 years, adding: “The society must not die because of the good it is doing to the virtually impaired community”.
She recalled that NSB was founded in May 1955 with assistance of the late Sir James Robertson, then Governor-General of the Federation, with a vision to rehabilitate and train visually handicapped adolescents and adults.
From one building, the school, she said, today has different structures which include Braille library, cane workshop, dining room, music studio, hostels, classrooms, cooking and gymnastic rooms.
