By Vivian Emoni
Dr Tinuke Temitope, Founder, Mitcheal Kehinde Oluwadarasimi (MKO) Foundation for Special Needs and Caregivers, has urged governments and society to strengthen help for caregivers.
Making the decision in Abuja on Saturday, she additionally sought enchancment in inclusion of kids residing with disabilities.
Temitope spoke on the 2026 Mitcheal Legacy and Caregivers’ Support Meet-Up, with the theme, ‘From Remembrance to Impact: Supporting Caregivers, Promoting Inclusion.
She said caregivers’ psychological well being, emotional wellbeing and welfare deserved better consideration in efforts to enhance the lives of kids with particular wants.
According to her, caregiving entails appreciable bodily, emotional and monetary calls for, typically leaving households struggling with out ample help.
She stated the inspiration was established following her son Mitcheal’s expertise with cerebral palsy after creating the situation from meningitis at 4 months previous.
Temitope stated his 14-year journey concerned repeated hospital visits, seizures, remedy, therapies, particular schooling and appreciable monetary and emotional pressures.
Mitcheal died on Oct. 29, 2025, however his life impressed the inspiration’s advocacy for youngsters with disabilities and their caregivers.
She stated his expertise additionally knowledgeable her e-book, ‘The Light We Called Mitcheal: A Journey of Faith, Courage and Love Through Cerebral Palsy’, lately launched.
The founder stated the inspiration sought to ascertain a sustainable help group the place caregivers might alternate info, entry assets and obtain encouragement.
She disclosed that the organisation lately performed incapacity consciousness and inclusion outreaches in 5 authorities secondary faculties in Abuja.
The initiative reached roughly 1,000 college students, selling understanding, acceptance and inclusion of individuals residing with disabilities.
She careworn that acceptance alone was inadequate, noting that significant inclusion required deliberate dedication, constant motion and an enabling setting.
The meet-up featured psychological well being and wellbeing classes, personal-care actions and displays by Nile University college students on innovation and incapacity help.
Temitope urged caregivers to prioritise their bodily and psychological well being, stressing that their identities and private wants prolonged past caregiving tasks.
Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, First Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, counseled the inspiration for supporting weak kids and their households.
Adesugba stated the founder had remodeled private grief right into a platform for advocacy, service and help for households affected by incapacity.
He stated Mitcheal’s life demonstrated that human value shouldn’t be measured by bodily skill, speech, mobility or private achievements.
He described caregiving as bodily demanding, emotionally exhausting and financially draining, typically taking a toll on caregivers’ wellbeing.
Adesugba known as for sustained advocacy, improved entry to healthcare and schooling, better inclusion and stronger partnerships supporting affected households.
Also talking, Mitcheal’s father, Mr Samuel Temitope, condemned the stigmatisation of kids with disabilities.
He urged Nigerians to cease attributing disabilities to kids’s bodily look or the alleged sins of their mother and father.
Mr Temitope known as for better societal acceptance, love and help to make sure kids residing with disabilities felt valued and included.
Sola Adeniyi, Senior Pastor of Christ Apostolic Church, Kuje, Abuja, additionally shared his household’s expertise with cerebral palsy.
He stated discovering that his daughter, Favour, had cerebral palsy got here as a shock, prompting the household to hunt medical consideration.
Adeniyi stated his daughter lived with the situation for 13 years earlier than dying in June 2026.
He suggested mother and father to hunt skilled medical care, join with households going through related challenges and converse overtly about their experiences.
He stated such connections might assist households overcome stigma, alternate helpful info and entry applicable steerage.
Similarly, Mr Abanum Ifesochi, Chief Executive Officer of Pathbridge Care Foundation, urged the federal government to strengthen help for youngsters with disabilities and their households.
Ifesochi stated insufficient help and companies had pressured some households to relocate overseas in quest of higher care.
He known as for elevated public consciousness, stronger advocacy and improved entry to hospital appointments and different important companies.
He additionally urged authorities to deal with discrimination and supply more practical help for households caring for youngsters with disabilities. (NAN)
VOE/KTO
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
