The project ICT is a Sight for the Blind is training visually impaired people in Information Communication Technology on computers and Android phones with the accessibility feature. This is to enhance productivity in the academic environment and working places. The project has greatly increased the level of independence and self-esteem for people that are visually impaired. The project has two major objectives which are maximising the chances of persons with visual impairments to get jobs and performing well when given the opportunity and enabling the members with visual impairment to get access to the wider world upon learning how to use computers or phones. This is done through:

• Identifying members who have the interest to undergo the ICT Training.
• Identifying people who are skilful in ICT and can train the blind very well.
• Finding a suitable place and venue for the training and
• Designing a suitable period of time to train each set of trainees.

Empowering the Blind in Nigeria by strengthening their Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills 

The social, political and economic atmosphere in Nigeria have been quite gloomy as well as inaccessible to the blind. The untoward behaviours meted by some Nigerians to the blind is heart breaking and disheartening. The blind are generally seen as people who should be pitied and completely dependent on others. 

The Nigerian Association for the Blind through their empowerment project sought to conduct information and communication technology capacity strengthening for people who are blind. The aim was to enhance their potential and productivity especially in academic and working environments. This would in turn increase their level of independence and self-esteem. The project started with the establishment of a cyber café at the Vocational Training Center for the Blind, Plateau State, Nigeria. It trained over 50 members of the visually impaired community on the use of ICT and exposed them to various applications and systems within a computer. 

Tinjul is a young person with visual impairment living in Plateau State; a free and easy-going person who would have managed his disability better if only life is less hard. Tinjul had a vision of seeing the world and connecting with others across the globe, but Tinjul had neither means nor resources to do this.  ‘I would love to see the world; to connect with others apart from my immediate community that I interact with every day. If possible, I would also like to show my community that there is a world out there, apart from our immediate support group here in Plateau State’. Tinjul who had ICT expertise mobilised members from his community to put together a concept note to apply for the Voice empowerment grant.  

Because of capacity strengthening through the project, rightsholders acquired new skills. The independence and privacy that came with the ICT knowledge is empowering- graduates of the training can now use the computer, android phone, print/scan without the support of an aid. The digital space became a succour for members to engage and lighten up during COVID, particularly those going through depression due to the lock down. It was great to see them get busy with their android phones or connect with their community via WhatsApp when they could not come out and connect physically.  

It was beautiful to see the café now providing services like – use of internet, printing, scanning etc for visually impaired communities studying at the University of Jos; this opportunity was not there before but now, specialised standard equipment like braille printer/scanner etc are available at the café.  

For Tijul, his dream of connecting with the world was realised as he was able to browse through the internet to see things and meet with others across the globe- he actually identified other visually impaired communities outside Nigeria. He has been able to carry his community along as many received the training. He was also thrilled that the café gave him the opportunity to horn his ICT skills (as he participate in coordinating & facilitating the trainings) and gained project management skills.