Foundation empowers parents with N48m

Oyetty Foundation for Special Parents said it spent N48.5m in 2024 on the empowerment of parents of children with special needs in the country, the foundation disclosed in a statement over the weekend.

Speaking during its second anniversary in Lagos, the founder of the organisation, Oyetola Akande, said the amount spent was to help the parents of children with special needs to become self-reliant by setting up businesses, paying rent, or sponsoring their education or skill acquisition.

“We care for parents of children with special needs; we assist them in setting up businesses, paying rent, and sponsoring their education or skills acquisition. The goal is to help them become self-reliant so they can, in turn, provide better care for their children,” Akande said.

She mentioned that the event was the 3rd major gathering of the group, marking its 2nd 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,” he 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.

A mother of a nine-year-old girl with Down syndrome, Simons Faloge, commended the foundation’s efforts and emphasised the importance of parents understanding 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.

She urged parents to speak up and seek help when needed while also praising the Oyetty Foundation as a community that offers genuine support to those who need it.

Faloge also called on more individuals and organisations to join hands in creating a brighter future for families of children with special needs.

The foundation was established in 2022 and has made significant strides in empowering carers by providing financial and emotional support to them.