A non-governmental organization, OAK Centre Prime, has raised alarm over the lack of access to proper healthcare and support for disabled children in Nigeria and is calling for urgent intervention.
Though the Disability Act of Nigeria was signed into law in 2007 and ratified in 2010, the implementation is progressing slowly, and thousands of families are still experiencing stigma, poverty, and substandard medical care. The majority of parents cannot afford the needed treatments, and some are even forced to go abroad for costly medical treatment, while others can’t do anything.
OAK Centre Prime aims to bridge this gap by providing medical intervention, rehabilitation, and advocacy to guarantee that children with disabilities receive quality support.
In a chat with LEADERSHIP, Mrs. Olufunke Adeloye, Chief Responsibility Officer of OAKonsult Disabilities, discussed her deeply personal experience that led to the establishment of the centre.
She told us that in April 2010, her daughter, Oluwatoyitan Adeloye, had suffered severe brain damage due to medical negligence in Nigeria. The family relocated to the United Kingdom seeking better care, and Oluwatoyitan was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Global Developmental Delay. In spite of her disability, she was an inspiration until her passing in October 2024.
Driven to prevent other families from experiencing the same difficulties, Adeloye set up OAK Centre Prime to offer special therapy, medical intervention, and educational services to disabled children in Nigeria.
As the groundbreaking ceremony draws near, she is calling on government agencies, corporate organisations, medical practitioners, and members of the public to come out and support the project.
“This isn’t just about one centre it’s about creating a movement so that every child, regardless of their ability, has access to care and dignity,” she said.
