The Irede Foundation (TIF) in partnership with NNPC/SNEPCo has given out 5 free limbs to 4 children living with limb loss as part of efforts to ensure they live an independent and limitless life.
Announcing this at a recent event in celebration of the 5th year anniversary of the annual “Back to School Project” the Executive Director, Mrs Crystal Chiegbu, thanked the NNPC/SNEPCo group for 5 years of consistently supporting the Foundation’s Champions, and this year Champions; Lekan Olusesi, Perry Odigie, Adejumo AbdulKhalid, amongst others who will receive new prosthetic limbs.
She explained that the support has helped the children with limb loss to get a better start in life. “The organization started supporting most of the champs when they were really young, and it’s been such a delight watching them grow”
“Since the project inauguration in 2018, the focus has been to reduce the number of out-of-school children with disabilities through the provision of prosthetic limbs for indigent child amputees. The project simultaneously provides child amputees inclusion and access to live their lives to the fullest through advocacy and disability awareness”.
Crystal added that the group’s support has created an enabling and inclusive learning environment “learning ability of Children with disability who are enrolled in public schools across Lagos & Port Harcourt have been improved through the disability awareness which is being promoted through the distribution of the IREDIANS Comic book”.
Corroborating the ED’s views, the media officer, Oluwatosin said that “Investment in health, education and economic development are the most important investments a country can make, and when an organization prioritizes this in Children through its Social Investment, it should be applauded”.
“The Foundation has grown to be a source of motivation and encouragement for families with these challenges, a calm voice during the raging storm that says, You can live happily, if you choose to,” Tosin enthused.
Also, Mrs Elohor Aiboni, the Managing Director of NNPC/SNEPCo, represented by Mrs Adegoke Areje, in her remarks, thanked The IREDE Foundation for all they do behind the scenes and for organizing the event.
She added that the event has provided an opportunity for the group to meet the Champions. “So, we are pleased to see how well our young children are doing in school. Their school results are commendable. Now, they are happy to be back with their schoolmates and are learning with confidence. That’s so heartwarming!”
The beneficiaries during an interview, expressed their gratitude to the foundation. Mrs Blessing Odigie, the mother of Perry Odigie (9yrs), expressed her gratitude to foundation for the 5 limbs given to her son. “The founder of the foundation Mrs Crystal Chiegbu, has being a source of encouragement and hope. She said something to me when I met her in 2015 and the word has stuck with me and brought back all the hope that I lost when I had my son. I see her as a small god”
Another beneficiary, Mrs Fumilayo Olusesi, the mother of Lekan Olusesi, joyfully thanked the foundation for the limb support. “I am very happy and full of joy for the artificial leg that the foundation has given to my son. Since over 3years now, the Foundation has been of great assistance and because of the limb support for my son, he can go to school and mingle with his friends as well”