Fed Govt inaugurates ultra-modern home, school for visually-impaired in Lagos
The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a state-of-the-art educational and residential facility for visually impaired children in Surulere, Lagos.
The new complex located at the Bethesda Home and School for the Blind was delivered by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
The facility has 16 classrooms, dormitories, staff quarters, a Braille computer training centre, a library, a sound studio, and accessibility design—an infrastructure described as a national benchmark for inclusive education.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, hailed the project as “a symbol of compassion, inclusion, and collective progress”.
She emphasised that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and addresses several Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty eradication, good health, quality education, reduced inequality, and sustainable communities.
In a statement, Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication to the (lOSSAP-SDGs, Desmond Utomwen, quoted Orelope-Adefulire as saying that “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. Through this Bethesda Home, we are nurturing dreams, restoring dignity, and strengthening the wings of those who were never meant to be grounded,”said Orelope-Adefulire.
The complex is designed with full accessibility in mind, including ramps and disability-friendly features to promote ease of use for all occupants.
According to OSSAP-SDGs, the project exemplifies its commitment to building inclusive public infrastructure that meets the needs of persons with disabilities nationwide.
Representing the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the event was the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who lauded the Federal Government for the initiative.
She assured the gathering that continuous support would be provided to ensure that children at the Bethesda Home are never left behind.
“We commend this inclusive investment in our children and future leaders. It is clear evidence that the Tinubu administration is walking its talk in terms of delivering hope and opportunity to all Nigerians”, she said.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on SDGs, Dr. Oreoluwa Omowunmi Awokoya, praised the intervention as a “sanctuary of vision,” commending Princess Orelope-Adefulire for her visionary leadership.
“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”, Awokoya said.
Awokoya stressed that true progress lies not in slogans but in real, tangible structures that bring opportunity closer to society’s most marginalized groups.
“Bethesda Home reminds us that achieving the SDGs is about measurable impact,” she added.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, described the facility as a critical step toward realizing the State’s development priorities and praised the synergy between federal and state governments.
“This milestone underscores our administration’s unwavering commitment to inclusive development, sustainability, and renewed hope for all Lagosians,” he said.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire also used the occasion to commend the Bethesda Home’s staff and leadership for their years of service and dedication to visually impaired children.
Addressing the pupils, she said: “You are not defined by the limitations of your sight, but by the strength of your spirit. The world needs your light. Shine on.”
Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area, Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf, said the facility is not just a developmental achievement but a human triumph. It brings real hope to families and shows what true governance with empathy looks like”, Yusuf declared.
Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, added: “This is a game changer. This facility does not just house dreams—it creates them. It shows our children that their potential is valid, and that their future is worth investing in.’’
Former Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Bola Shodipo, noted that the intervention provides a replicable model for other states across Nigeria.
“This initiative proves that inclusion is not a favour—it is a right. And where rights are protected, nations thrive,” Shodipo said.
