The Bayero University Kano (BUK) has launched an Information and Communication Technology Centre for visually impaired students, known as the Visual Impairment Information Technology (VIIT) Centre, in a bid to promote an inclusive and disability-friendly learning environment.
The centre was unveiled at the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Haruna Musa, said the VIIT Centre was designed to provide an inclusive digital learning environment for students with visual impairments across the institution.
Musa noted that although BUK’s strong commitment to academic excellence had placed it among the top three universities in Nigeria, the promotion of inclusivity remained a key priority.
He said, “However, we will provide a sustainable mechanism that will enable us to compete with other universities that have embraced similar innovations, through proper monitoring and evaluation, and capacity-building training for both lecturers and students to ensure effective use of the facility.”
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Special Education, Prof. Kyauta Ibrahim, said the centre was equipped with 20 computers and specialised assistive software tailored to the learning needs of visually impaired students.
According to him, “The VIIT Centre serve as a major step toward strengthening inclusive education in the BUK and I assure the public that this is just the beginning. More initiatives will be implemented to support other disability clusters within the university.”
Ibrahim urged visually impaired students to make good use of the centre, adding that responsible and consistent usage would encourage stakeholders to expand their support for similar interventions.
The VIIT Centre is expected to enhance digital literacy, improve academic performance and promote equal access to learning opportunities for visually impaired students of Bayero University Kano.
