A non-governmental organisation, Oyetty Foundation, revealed at the weekend that it spent N48.5 million on the empowerment of parents of children with special needs in the country in 2024.
The foundation was established in 2022 and has made significant strides in empowering caregivers by providing financial and emotional support to them.
Speaking at the second anniversary of the foundation held in Lagos at the weekend, the founder, Oyetola Akande, said the amount spent was to assist parents of children with special needs to set up businesses, pay rent, sponsor their education or skill acquisition.
According to Akande, the reason for the empowerment was to help parents of children with special needs to become self-reliant.
“This is our third major gathering, and although it marks our second anniversary,.we will always urge parents to take care of themselves and with the support we provide, it will enable them to better cater to their children,” she said.
Reiterating Akande’s vision for children with special needs, her husband, Olusegun Akande, expressed pride in the foundation’s accomplishments over the past two years and its impact on families.
“There is a stigma in this country that discourages families of children with special needs from seeking help. We encourage them to step out, engage and access the right support,” he said.
He further revealed that the foundation’s plan for 2025 is to triple the N48.5 million spent in 2024.
Akande also commended the foundation’s team – Oyetola Akande, Adedolapo Agunlekin, Oluwatoyin Alakija and Mr Isola Oladimeji – for their unwavering commitment to the growth of the foundation.
The mother of a 9-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, Simons Faloge, commended the foundation’s efforts.
She emphasised the need for parents to understand that raising a child with special needs is not the end of the world.
“Parents must love their children, see the unique challenges as opportunities and thrive in their endeavours,” she said.
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