Foundations partner to uplift child amputees

Action for Change and Empowerment (A.C.E), in collaboration with The IREDE Foundation, on Wednesday, handed over prosthetic limbs to four child amputees, in furtherance of its Limb Empowerment Project.

The limbs were handed over to mark the close of the 2025 intervention.

The intervention saw the provision of support for beneficiaries aged between two and 18 years.

Speaking at the event, Project Coordinator of A.C.E, Ms Chiamaka Ukpanwanne, said that the partnership has continued to expand its reach since inception in 2023.

She said that the intervention, which previously focused on the South-West, has now extended to other regions in the country.

“This year, we supported four champions, one from the East, one from the North, and two from the West.

“Our partnership with the IREDE Foundation has been fantastic.

“Seeing children living with disabilities become more independent, brings joy not only to us, but also to their caregivers,” she said.

Ukpanwanne, who doubles as Deputy Country Manager for A.C.E, said that supporting young amputees is a major milestone for the partnership.

“We are particularly excited about the two-year-old and four-year-old beneficiaries, as we have not previously worked with children that young,” she added.

On his part, programme Associate at IREDE Foundation, Mr Gift Anyanwu, said that the ceremony provided an opportunity for both organisations to witness direct impact of their collaboration, in the lives of recipients.

He hinted that the foundation has supported over 100 child amputees with prosthetic limbs across Nigeria in the last three years.

“Our ‘Refer a Child’ campaign helps us reach children who may be hidden due to stigma associated with disability.

“Many families do not know that support exists, so outreach is essential.

“We are confident that these children will overcome limitations and societal barriers with the help of the prosthetic limbs provided,” he said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the gesture, a parent to one of the beneficiaries, Mr. Collins Chukwu, expressed gratitude to the foundations for restoring confidence and mobility to his son who lost his limb at four months.

“He can now move, play, and do things like other children; we are truly grateful for the support given to our family,” he said.

Both foundations have expressed optimism that the programme will be expanded in the future, to support more children living with disabilities.