Disabled children in Nigeria - 6th January 2025

Joy Eseoghene Odiete was a famous singer in Nigeria. Then she had a son. His name’s Chinua.

Chinua has problems moving and talking. He’s disabled. For many people in Nigeria, disability is a taboo. Very soon, Odiete’s husband left. Her friends stopped speaking to her.

Odiete stopped singing. She got a normal job. In Nigeria, people often keep disabled children inside. Other people are unkind to them.

But Odiete wanted more for her son. She sang to Chinua and put videos of this online.

She started Chinua Children Care Foundation too. It helps families with disabled children. Another mother at the foundation is Oluwakemi Oluwakayode. Her daughter Oluwaponmile is disabled.

Oluwakayode was a headteacher. She sent Oluwaponmile to a private school. But other parents didn’t want her there. Now, Oluwakayode teaches her daughter on a tablet. She teaches parents to look after their disabled children too.

Odiete’s most famous song’s ‘Kuchi Kuchi’. She recorded it again for disabled children and their mothers.