By Esther Onyegbula & Doreen Adamu

The founder of the Lady Atinuke Oyindamola Memorial Home, Atinuke Oyindamola, has called on the government at all levels, corporate organizations, and kind-hearted Nigerians to partner with the home by donating funds and items. This support, she said, would enable them to properly care for children living with neuro-divergent conditions at the facility.

Lady Atinuke Oyindamola made this appeal while addressing journalists during activities to mark the 2024 Awareness Week themed Disability is Not Inability, recently held in Badagry.

According to Oyindamola, the rising costs of food items, medications, and other basic necessities have made it increasingly difficult to care for the children, manage the home, and pay staff salaries.

Appealing for greater corporate social responsibility to sustain its services, Oyindamola said:

“We need financial help to sustain this facility. The medications of the children are essential and very expensive. Without these medications we can’t manage some of these children. We need beverage companies to support us with their products because the cost of food items has skyrocketed. Some of the children are on special diets and can only consume cereals as they cannot digest regular food. We also pay physiotherapists and speech therapists for their services, but employing a speech therapist full-time is beyond our financial capacity.”

Lamenting the current state of affairs, she said, “Our staff are the least paid, considering the hard work they do. This place is like a hospital, yet we never owe salaries. I appeal to the government to take over the payment of staff salaries. The financial burden is now affecting my health. From the 15th of each month, my blood pressure begins to rise.”

Highlighting the transformation of children who initially arrived at the home embittered and withdrawn, she noted that with proper care, many have become cheerful, articulate, and capable of constructive interactions. However, the journey has not been without challenges, including financial constraints, the loss of wards, and infrastructural issues such as replacing a fallen fence.

Speaking about the Awareness Week, the administration officer, Lady Atinuke Oyindamola Memorial Home Mr. Akintunde Adewale said: “The initiative aims to advocate for the inclusion and welfare of individuals living with neuro-divergent conditions. This year’s campaign seeks to enlighten the public about the abilities and potential of individuals with special needs while fostering a culture of inclusivity.”

Providing further details about the awareness campaign Adewale said the awareness campaign, which runs from November 23 to December 1, 2024, has a series of events designed to educate and inspire the public while celebrating the resilience and talents of individuals with disabilities.

According to him, on November 23, a charity walk will be held from the Badagry Secretariat to raise awareness and foster community involvement. An educational session addressing the challenges and opportunities for individuals living with special needs will be held on November 28, while a musical concert and talent showcase is slated for November 30. It will feature a display of talents by individuals with disabilities at the Badagry Local Government Auditorium, Ajara, Badagry. A thanksgiving service will be held on December 1, to conclude the week’s events.