The Irede Foundation has expanded its disability inclusion outreach in Lagos, reaching more than 1,000 residents through an annual programme that combines
awareness advocacy,
fundraising and direct support for people living with disabilities.
The initiative, held in
Lagos, brought together volunteers, supporters and beneficiaries who
contributed personal resources to support empowerment efforts
for persons with
disabilities. The programme also featured a 32-kilometre awareness walk aimed
at drawing attention to mobility challenges, social exclusion
and access gaps
affecting the disability community.
The outreach forms part
of the foundation’s broader push to improve access to prosthetic limbs and
promote inclusion across education, mobility and economic
participation.
Speaking at the event,
the foundation’s Founder and Chief Executive of the foundation, Crystal Chigbu,
said the organisation’s work now extends beyond
Nigeria, with
operations across all 36 states and growing international footprints in
countries including Ghana, Germany, Canada and Namibia.
She said the
initiative, themed “No Limits, Just Motion”, was focused on promoting access to
transportation, education and information for people living
with disabilities,
while encouraging them to demonstrate their abilities. As part of this year’s
programme, more than 200 children are expected to receive
prosthetic limbs.
Chigbu added that the
foundation is increasingly deploying 3D-printed prosthetic limbs, following
successful pilot runs over the past six months. The technology
is expected to account
for more than half of the limbs distributed this year, a move she said would
accelerate delivery and expand access for both children
and adults.
Beyond amputees, she
noted that the foundation’s interventions now cover a broader spectrum of
disability groups, including people with albinism, the deaf,
the visually impaired
and others requiring mobility and social support.
Government officials
present at the event reiterated Lagos State’s commitment to inclusive
development. Commissioner for Youth and Social Development,
Mobolaji Ogunlende,
described the outreach as a critical platform for advocacy and collaboration,
aligning with the state government’s pledge to ensure
that no resident is
left behind.
He said the state,
through the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, continues to coordinate
programmes targeted at people living with disabilities
while calling for
stronger partnerships with private organisations and civil society groups.
According to him, while
government support remains essential, collaboration is key to scaling impact,
noting that assistance could range from financial
backing to policy
support and access to infrastructure that enables organisations to expand their
reach.
Also speaking, a member
of the foundation’s board of trustees, Folake Okunubi, said the outreach was
designed not only to raise funds but also to challenge
societal perceptions
about disability.
She stressed the need
for inclusive infrastructure, education and social systems, noting that many
children with limb loss face stigma and barriers to
schooling, often
resulting in isolation. Creating an enabling environment, she said, would allow
beneficiaries described by the foundation as “champions”
to fully participate in
society and access economic opportunities.
One of the
beneficiaries, Michael Alan, a 14-year-old participant in the walk, said the
programme had helped raise awareness and demonstrate that people
living with
disabilities can perform at the same level as others.
He said the initiative
had not only provided support but also challenged perceptions, adding that
increased awareness and sustained empowerment programmes
would enable more
children with disabilities to live independently and contribute meaningfully to
society.
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