MOUAU Final-Year Students Lead Empowerment Outreach for Visually Impaired Students in Umuahia

Final-year students of the Department of Guidance and Counselling, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), have carried out an empowerment outreach programme aimed at supporting visually impaired learners at the School for the Blind, Afara Ukwu, Umuahia.

The initiative, led by over 400 graduating students as part of their EDU 421 (Human Capital Development) course, was designed to reposition public perception of persons living with disabilities from one of sympathy to one of empowerment and inclusion.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, the Course Representative, Hon. Comr. Ifechigha Solomon Nkemjika, stressed that visual impairment does not limit talent or potential. He rejected what he described as a culture of pity, insisting that persons with disabilities require access to opportunities, empowerment, and inclusion rather than sympathy.

As part of the advocacy drive, the students emphasized the role of modern technology in enhancing learning outcomes for visually impaired persons. They advocated the use of assistive technologies, including screen readers, to bridge educational gaps, while calling on government agencies, tertiary institutions, and development partners to invest more in digital tools and inclusive learning environments.

In her remarks during the outreach, the Director of the Career Service Centre, MOUAU, Prof. Osorochi P. Obi, described the initiative as timely and impactful. She pledged to escalate the challenges faced by the School for the Blind to the university management for possible intervention and support.

The Head Principal of the School for the Blind, Mrs. Ngozi Bridget Emenike, who received the delegation, commended the students and the university for promoting inclusion. She noted that the initiative underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and sustained support systems for the education of visually impaired learners.