Time for change - disabilities in Nigeria - 6th January 2025

After a successful singing career in Nigeria, Joy Eseoghene Odiete had a son, Chinua, born with cerebral palsy and another rare brain disorder. In much of Nigeria, disability’s still a taboo that’s often blamed on witches.

As a result, it’s regarded with fear, which leads to some children being abandoned or shut away. Shortly after Chinua’s birth, Odiete’s husband abandoned their family, leaving her to cope alone, and her friends soon followed. Giving up her singing career and taking a 9 to 5 job, Odiete devoted her time to her son.

Determined not to hide Chinua away, she posted videos on her socials showing her singing to him. This generated a lot of hate from trolls, which Odiete discussed in a Guardian newspaper interview. She said, “I’d post my baby and people would ask what was wrong with him. Some even accused me of trying to abort him, which wasn’t true.”

In response, Odiete founded Chinua Children Care Foundation in her son’s name. It assists low income families, helping them afford their disabled child’s care and supplying medical aids to help the child develop. It’s also demanding children with disabilities have access to education and welfare support. Despite a 2019 law requiring inclusive education for children with additional needs and disabilities, there’s been little funding allocated to provide this.

Among those volunteering at Chinua Foundation is former headteacher Oluwakemi Oluwakaoyode, whose own daughter Oluwaponmile , has cerebral palsy. When Oluwaponmile began attending a private school other parents quickly threatened to remove their children if she remained. This ended with its management pressuring Oluwakayode to stop sending her daughter to school.

Oluwakayode now home schools her daughter, with help from an interactive tablet, while volunteering at the foundation, training parents in their children’s care. And Odiete’s released an updated version of her hit ‘Kuchi Kuchi’ in support of these unique families and their rights.