Implement disability law, NGO tells govt

The IREDE Foundation has urged the Federal and State Governments to fully implement the disability law, which includes inclusive budgeting for children with disabilities to enable them to have access to all rights and privileges like every other child.

The founder of The IREDE Foundation, Mrs Crystal Chigbu, made this call during the handover partnership ceremony with Action for Change and Empowerment held recently in Lagos,

She stated that this was backed by the principle of doing everything in the ‘Best Interest of a Child’ according to the Child’s Rights Act of Nigeria.

She added that, in line with its mission, IREDE was committed to inspiring actions so that child amputees, their families, and caregivers could live limitless and independent Chigbu lives.

“This singular mission motivates the organisation to keep extending limbs and raising champions across Nigeria. So far, the organisation has given over 500 limbs to child amputees through 12 years and hopes to do more so that the life chances of these amputees are not in any way limited because of the condition of missing limbs,” she stated.

During the ceremony, three limbs were given to three child amputees residing in Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo States, to enable them to resume school and carry on with life independently.

She revealed that during the 2024 programmatic year alone, TIF had supported child amputees with 300 limbs.

“We call on well-meaning Nigerians to help every child with a disability thrive in society through referral and financial partnerships.

“Action for Change and Empowerment has supported us with about N9m. But more importantly, we are delighted to see the children now doing what they used to do like riding bicycles,’ they can now do the activities they love again,” Chigbu added.

She mentioned that the Action for Change and Empowerment Organisation had twice sponsored support for six affected children from 2023 to 2024.

“We hope to sustain this partnership, as our success stories demonstrate the impact and should inspire further action.

“We still have more limbs to give out. We intend to storm many schools across the six districts of Lagos State to do awareness campaigns on disabilities to equip other children without disabilities with knowledge about disabilities and how to treat persons with disability using our fun, attractive, and easy-to-read comic books,” she added.

On his part, the Director of Action for Change and Empowerment, Mr Yemi Edun, said, “In line with his organisation’s strategic focus, we will continue to support vulnerable and indigent people, especially children, in the country irrespective of creed or prevailing circumstances.”

He further stated that his organisation had expended over £500,000 towards development projects in Nigeria through various NGO support programmes for low-income and vulnerable groups identified in the country.

“Today, we are here to see the beneficiaries we have supported to receive prosthetic limbs through The IREDE Foundation this year, to share their testimonies and see the extent of impact we have had on their personal lives. So far, we have given 10 limbs to children without limbs, and we are ready to do more for humanity as long as we have the means to do so,” Edun assured.