Wife of the Delta State Governor and founder of the You Matter Charity Foundation, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has awarded scholarships to visually impaired students and empowered members of the blind community with food items and assistive devices during the foundation’s outreach programme tagged “Mission to the Visually Impaired” held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Asaba.
Speaking at the event, Deaconess Oborevwori said the initiative was designed to extend love and support to the visually impaired while promoting inclusivity through education, empowerment, and care.
She explained that the You Matter Charity Foundation has been actively supporting children with autism, special needs, and visual impairments by providing educational and vocational materials to enhance their learning and confidence.
According to her, society must move beyond stigmatisation and begin to recognise the intelligence, courage, and potential of the visually impaired.
“Too often, the visually impaired are regarded as lesser members of society, denied access to quality education, and sometimes treated as second-class citizens. But today, we are here to change that narrative,” she said.
Encouraging visually impaired students to strive for excellence, the Delta First Lady urged parents to remain hopeful in their children’s potential.
“The visually impaired have a special place in God’s creation and deserve every opportunity to thrive. Let us work with them by sharing knowledge, fighting poverty, and opening doors of opportunity,” she added.
As part of the empowerment gesture, Deaconess Oborevwori donated several assistive gadgets, including laptop computers with screen readers, Braille papers, slates and styluses, talking calculators, tactile learning sets, digital audio recorders, and talking watches and clocks, among other items designed to aid their learning and independence.
She also distributed food items, including 120 bags of rice, 100 tubers of yams, palm oil, garri, noodles, salt, custard, and other household provisions, to support the beneficiaries and their families.
In addition, the First Lady awarded full scholarships to four visually impaired university students, covering tuition and academic needs until graduation.
She described education as “a tool of empowerment and equality.”
While commending the leadership of the Association of the Blind for their resilience, Deaconess Oborevwori expressed optimism that the engagement would inspire renewed confidence and hope among members of the community.
In her welcome remarks, the Director-General of the You Matter Charity Foundation, Mrs Lawrentta Ogbedo, described the outreach as a reaffirmation of the foundation’s commitment to inclusivity and social justice.
“The visually impaired are part of our community, and this initiative is our mother’s contribution to bridging the gap and ensuring no one is left behind in the journey of development. Food symbolises love and care, and today we reaffirm that you are seen, valued, and loved,” Ogbedo said.
Deaconess Oborevwori concluded the event with words of encouragement drawn from 3 John 1:2, reminding the beneficiaries that their physical limitation do not define their purpose.
“Though your physical sight may be limited, your vision of hope brings light and happiness to the world. Do not be discouraged; keep striving for the best,” she prayed.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Angela Ekure, a visually impaired broadcaster with the Delta State Broadcasting Service, expressed deep appreciation to the governor’s wife for her compassion and generosity.
She described the gesture as “the first of its kind” from any First Lady in the state, noting that the scholarships and donations would significantly ease the academic and financial burdens of the visually impaired community.
