The Irede Foundation seeks support for children with limb loss, says no child should be excluded
By Eberechi Obinagwam
The Irede Foundation has called for support for children with limb loss.
The group, during its annual awareness inclusion walk tagged ‘Out on a limb,’ demanded action, accountability, and a future where no child is excluded because of limb loss.
The advocacy walk took place across 60 locations worldwide, including, Lagos last Saturday with the theme: ‘Full access, No cap.’
The walk spotlight and promote awareness for children living with disabilities and others fighting against peer discrimination.
IREDE Foundation has been providing free and subsidized artificial limbs for children who cannot afford them. They focus on children within the age bracket of 0-18 years.
The foundation also has a laboratory in Lagos for assembling prosthetics.
According to the organisers, the 2025 edition is a bold call to action, demanding unrestricted access to education, healthcare, and mobility support for children with limb loss.
Executive Director of The IREDE Foundation, Mrs. Crystal Chigbu, said, “TIF was born from my personal experience. My daughter was born without bones in her legs, and we had to make the difficult decision to amputate. As I walked that journey, I met many children like her. I knew then that I had to do something to end stigmatization, advocate for inclusion, and prove that children with disabilities can live full lives. But we can’t do it alone—we need the media, advocates, and communities to help spread the word, especially as April marks Limb Loss Awareness Month.”
The Programs officer of the Foundation added, “Out-On-A-Limb is not just a walk; it is a movement. It is our opportunity to challenge stigmatization, demand inclusive policies, and ensure that no child is left behind. If we truly want an inclusive society, we must remove barriers—one step at a time.”
This year, the foundation aims to reach 60,000 people globally to raise 40 million naira and engage 10,000 participants in Nigeria.
The walk will not only raise awareness about limb loss, inclusion, and disability rights but also fund prosthetic limbs for more child amputees, promote inclusive education, and increase top-of-mind awareness about support systems for children with disabilities.
Chairman of the IREDE Foundation, Kunle Akinkugbe, acknowledged all the organisations that have supported the foundation since its inception, particularly those that made the walk more interesting, not only because of what they provided or contributed, but also because they enabled the foundation’s work by supporting worthy champions with prosthetic limbs.
He said, “The work that the Foundation does in providing limbs, engaging in advocacy, and other empowerment programs is really unbelievable. And until you come close, I feel that you really won’t appreciate the impact.”
Akinkugbe emphasised the importance of long term support, explaining that providing a prosthetic limb for a child is not a one time act.
“What I always used to say is that you don’t know what you don’t know. Now, when I was invited to join the Irede Foundation, I didn’t know that we had the kind of problems relating to child amputees, and it was a real education. The things that I learned and came to understand, for example, you provide a prosthetic limb for a child today, but that child is growing, and very soon they will need a new limb.
And I think that is the importance of the engagement that we all have, and why we have had people supporting us right from inception. They have stayed the course, they have stayed with the children. It’s not just to give them, to provide a limb today, and when they outgrow it, they have to revert to something less able.
So, once we take on the responsibility of extending a limb to a child, we have to stay with them until adulthood, when they now get a limb that they can use for several years. That’s why we need sustained engagement and support.”
He also discussed the issue of stigma, especially in schools, saying it was the reason the foundation came up with the idea of the Iredians magazine.
He noted that beyond providing limbs, the foundation also focuses on helping children return to school and have full access to education, just like their peers.
Commissioner for youth and social development, Mobolaji Ogunlende said the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu believes that there is ability in disability and has vowed to not to leave anyone behind, irrespective of your colour, background, race or disability, adding that it falls into the Plus theme agenda which the government takes seriously.
According to him, the government cannot do it alone, “No man is an island. We must all come together collectively to ensure that this sort of advocacy is fully effective.”
He added that the intention is to reach more people in need of limbs and this he said can only be achieved through collective efforts, advocacy and fundraising.
To the children with disabilities, Lagos State general manager, Disability and Inclusion Advocate, Lawyer, Author, Lasoda, Adenike Oyetunde – Lawal urged them not to be discouraged, “They are many people like you in Nigeria who have lost one leg or both hands that are doing exceptional things. Remember it is as far as your mind can see. You are loved by God and you are the righteousness of God. It means that everything works together for good.”
She noted that there is so much our children can be and become without cap knees.
‘I am a person in the leadership space and a female with a disability in Nigeria. I always live my life knowing that there are many of you as parents or caregivers who see my life and understand that if I can, your children and even you yourselves are able to go above and beyond.
She also stated that they are open for collaboration.
