The Chain Education and Development Empowerment (CEDE), a non-governmental organisation, has launched a new humanitarian project aimed at providing life-changing prosthetic limbs to physically challenged individuals across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, and Kogi States.
Executive Director of CEDE, Cynthia Anaele, described the project titled:“Transforming Lives: Prostheses for Progress“, as a bold step toward empowering amputees and restoring dignity to hundreds of disadvantaged Nigerians.
She said the project is about giving real mobility and value back to people who have lost limbs; whether due to accidents, diabetes, or conflict-related injuries,.
The programme is being supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) through grants, alongside medical support from Nisa Garki Hospital, Abuja. According to Anaele, the project will span at least two months, starting with comprehensive screening for amputees, many of whom are already undergoing assessments.
“Today, we’re focusing on below-knee amputations. Some beneficiaries are retired police officers injured by explosions. Others lost limbs due to illness or road accidents. Each participant goes through medical screening to ensure their residual limb is healthy enough for prosthesis installation,” she explained.
Beyond providing prosthetics, CEDE’s initiative includes physical training and rehabilitation for recipients, some of whom have relied on wheelchairs or crutches for years. “They will be taught how to walk with the prosthetics. This includes an adaptation period using crutches until they can move freely,” Anaele added.
While the organisation is targeting at least 3,000 physically challenged individuals annually, the current project has registered about 200 participants so far, with the number still growing. Anaele emphasised that the goal is not just to equip beneficiaries but also to provide post-care for one year, ensuring their continued well-being.
Anaele revealed that this is CEDE’s first major grant-supported initiative for prosthetics. “Before now, we had been doing smaller outreaches. But this FIRS grant has given us the capacity to go big. We’re also open to partnerships from individuals, NGOs, to public and private organisations.”
She acknowledged the positive impact of Nigeria’s Disability Act, noting that while CEDE has yet to partner directly with the federal government on the law’s implementation, support from FIRS as a government agency reflects growing inclusion.
“We know there’s an association of people living with disabilities. We are open to working with them and any other body to continue reaching those in need,” she added.
As the screening and rehabilitation process continues, CEDE urges more supporters to come forward. “Our vision is clear: to reach at least 3,000 amputees every year,“
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