In celebration of International White Cane Day, over 100 visually impaired individuals in Anambra State were empowered with state-of-the-art white canes embedded with chips to aid their mobility. The initiative was spearheaded by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) in collaboration with several partner organizations during the second edition of the “White Cane Campaign” held at All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha.
Themed “One Blind, One Cane: A Journey of Resilience,” the event brought together members of the Anambra State Chapter of the National Association of the Blind (NAB) and Out-of-Home Advertising Practitioners from across the state.
Speaking at the event, ANSAA’s Managing Director, Mr. Odili Ujuboñu, represented by the General Manager, Mr. Chijioke Agbanyim, emphasized that the campaign was in fulfillment of a promise made the previous year to provide white cane sensitization for NAB members. He urged the visually impaired community to continue contributing positively to society, assuring them that ANSAA’s partnership with organizations such as OAAN, TAVA, and the Oluebube Charity Foundation ensures the campaign’s sustainability.
Key figures, including NAB National Chairman Mr. Lawrence Nwanolue and Anambra State NAB Chairman Comrade Ernest Okanmelu, expressed gratitude to ANSAA and its partners for their support. They highlighted the importance of the white cane as a tool for independence and mobility for the visually impaired.
Onitsha North Mayor, Honourable Tony Nworah, who led the distribution of the white canes, praised the initiative and promised that his administration, in line with the state government’s efforts, would continue to ensure that persons with disabilities are included in the state’s development plans.
