FNSB charts new course for blind empowerment at leadership retreat
The need for stronger partnerships, expanded access, improved governance and measurable outcomes for the empowerment of the blind and visually impaired persons took centre stage at the 2026 leadership retreat
The need for stronger partnerships, expanded access, improved governance and measurable outcomes for the empowerment of the blind and visually impaired persons took centre stage at the 2026 leadership retreat of the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB) held recently in Lagos.
The annual gathering brought together governing council members, management, partners and other stakeholders to assess institutional performance and outline a strategic direction for the Society from 2026 to 2030, with emphasis on governance reforms, sustainable fundraising and operational efficiency.
In her keynote address, Chairman of the Executive Council, Mrs. Arit Tunde-Imoyo, unveiled a bold roadmap anchored on expanded access to services, diversified funding, stronger governance frameworks and improved long-term outcomes for beneficiaries.
She described the retreat as a defining moment in the Society’s over 70-year history, urging stakeholders to shift focus from longevity to relevance in a rapidly changing social, economic and technological environment.
“In a rapidly changing environment, we must ask not only what we have achieved, but what we must become,” she said, noting that the retreat was designed to shape the Society’s direction over the next two to five years rather than merely review past activities.
Under the first strategic pillar which revolves around access, reach and programme expansion, Tunde-Imoyo emphasised the need to broaden the Society’s reach and engage earlier with newly diagnosed individuals who could benefit from rehabilitation and vocational training.
She said ‘planned measures include sustainably increasing trainee admissions, strengthening collaboration with associations serving the visually impaired, establishing referral pathways with schools and eye hospitals, and intensifying awareness campaigns nationwide’.
“The key question is not whether there is need, but whether our systems are designed to meet it,” she stated.
On funding and sustainability, the Chairman cautioned against overreliance on a limited donor base and called for structured engagement with federal and state governments, as well as long-term partnerships with at least four committed organisations within the next five years.
She also stressed the importance of strengthening the Society’s capacity to attract and manage international grants while improving governance and reporting systems to enhance donor confidence.
“Vision without resources is aspiration. Sustainability demands structure,” she said.
Tunde-Imoyo further underscored the need to focus on outcomes beyond training. She proposed the establishment of a robust After-Care Programme to support graduates, partnerships with technology firms to expand employment opportunities, the digitisation of the Society’s library into an assistive technology-enabled learning hub, and the deployment of data systems to track graduate employment and long-term impact.
She called for a comprehensive review of the Society’s governance architecture, including its Board Constitution and committee structures, to ensure alignment with its strategic ambitions.
“Good governance is not an administrative burden; it is the backbone of sustainability and donor confidence,” she stressed.
In her presentation, Chairman of the Board of Governors, FNSB Vocational Training Centre (VTC), Mrs. Ayopeju Njideaka, provided an overview of the Centre’s current position and presented a SWOT analysis prepared by management.
According to her, the Society continues to challenge the perception that blindness signals the end of productivity, promoting instead the idea that visual impairment represents “another way of living life,” supported by rehabilitation and reskilling.
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She highlighted key strengths, including the Society’s national focus on individualised rehabilitation, its long-standing legacy of trust and expertise, dedicated staff, strategic Lagos location, established partnerships and spacious facilities.
However, she pointed to weaknesses such as limited classrooms and modern laboratories, low enrolment figures, curriculum gaps, funding constraints and accessibility challenges.
She also identified opportunities in the growing national focus on disability inclusion, partnerships with government and private sector organisations, renewable energy initiatives, increasing demand for digital literacy, accreditation processes, entrepreneurship development and collaborations with technology firms.
Njideaka emphasised the need for curriculum updates, ICT upgrades, structured staff capacity building, entrepreneurship and freelancing pathways, and the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into training programmes.
Council members at the retreat further called for stronger engagement with state governments, particularly in northern Nigeria, to sponsor trainees and expand awareness of the Society’s services nationwide.