The Irede Foundation

The Irede Foundation (TIF) is a Nigerian humanitarian and disability-inclusion organization established in 2012 by Crystal Chigbu. Its work is centered on children and young people affected by congenital or acquired limb loss, with a particular focus on children from birth through age 18. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand, the foundation functions as a nonprofit service, advocacy, and awareness platform that combines direct assistance with public education and policy engagement. A central part of TIF’s work is helping children obtain artificial limbs. The foundation provides free or subsidized prosthetic limbs to children whose families cannot afford them and maintains a laboratory in Lagos for assembling prosthetic devices. Its rationale is that the high cost and limited availability of prostheses can prevent children from participating fully in school, family life, and wider society. By pairing equipment support with awareness activities, the foundation presents limb difference as an issue of access, dignity, and participation rather than only a medical condition. TIF’s public education work addresses both congenital and acquired limb loss and explains how families, schools, communities, and health-care providers can support children with limb differences. Its advocacy emphasizes the removal of barriers that keep children out of school or restrict their opportunities. The foundation’s stated mantra is that no child should be out of school or limited because of a disability. This places inclusive education, anti-discrimination work, and the reduction of bullying alongside prosthetic provision as core priorities. The foundation has developed several initiatives around these goals. Its annual Out-on-a-Limb advocacy walk raises visibility for children living with disabilities and draws attention to peer discrimination. Its Inclusive Education Project is designed to help children with disabilities thrive in academic environments while bringing their full identities into school life. TIF has also produced an inclusive magazine for children and launched a comic book intended to represent and educate children living with disabilities. Partnerships have extended TIF’s reach beyond direct services. A collaboration with Procter & Gamble produced the #Limitless Project, which sought to promote inclusive education by sensitizing teachers, parents, and communities. The initial project event took place at Ikeja Junior and Senior High School in Lagos, with an ambition to reach more than 1,000 children with disabilities in public schools over a two-year period. Another partnership with Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation supported a leadership program for Nigerians with disabilities aged 18 to 30, focusing on leadership knowledge, skills, mindset, and career development. The foundation reports that it has established contacts in more than 40 locations globally, directly supported more than 15,000 people, and achieved an indirect global reach of approximately 10 million people. These figures are presented as organizational impact claims rather than independently audited financial or performance data. TIF has also worked with local governments on access to health care and support for young amputees, while advocating for more affordable prosthetic and rehabilitation services. In 2017, it was named Humanitarian Foundation of the Year at the Green October Event. Its overall positioning is that of a child-focused disability-rights and humanitarian organization combining prosthetic access, inclusive education, public advocacy, and community engagement.

The Irede Foundation was established in Nigeria in 2012 by Crystal Chigbu. From its beginning, the organization focused on children affected by congenital or acquired limb loss and on the social conditions that can restrict their development. Its remit includes children from birth to age 18, a group for whom access to mobility equipment, rehabilitation, schooling, and social acceptance can have long-term consequences. The foundation’s direct-service model includes supplying free or subsidized artificial limbs to children who cannot afford them. It operates a laboratory in Lagos for assembling prosthetics, allowing its work to include an element of local technical capacity rather than relying only on external distribution. The prosthetics program is linked to a wider effort to explain limb loss and limb difference to families and the public, and to encourage more supportive responses to children who use artificial limbs or live with limb differences. As the organization developed, it broadened its work from prosthetic access into advocacy and inclusion. TIF has worked with local governments on health-care access and support for young amputees, arguing that the cost of prosthetic limbs makes necessary care inaccessible to many families. Its advocacy position is summarized by the statement that no child should be out of school or limited because of a disability. This places education access, social participation, and protection from peer discrimination at the center of its public mission. The Out-on-a-Limb walk became an annual global advocacy activity associated with the foundation. The event is intended to spotlight children living with disabilities and others affected by discrimination, while generating public awareness and support for the foundation’s work. TIF also launched an Inclusive Education Project to help children with disabilities participate fully in academic settings. Complementary communication projects included an inclusive magazine for children and a comic book addressing disability and representation. Partnerships have enabled the foundation to pursue larger-scale education and leadership goals. Procter & Gamble partnered with TIF on the #Limitless Project, which sought to sensitize teachers, parents, and communities so that children with and without disabilities could learn in more inclusive environments. The first edition was introduced at Ikeja Junior and Senior High School in Lagos, and the project stated an ambition to reach more than 1,000 children living with disabilities in public schools over two years. Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation supported a separate leadership program for Nigerians with disabilities aged 18 to 30, designed to develop leadership capabilities, career direction, and confidence. The foundation reports connections in more than 40 locations globally, direct support for more than 15,000 people, and indirect reach of roughly 10 million people. These figures describe reported organizational impact and are not accompanied in the supplied material by audited methodology. In 2017, the Green October Event named TIF Humanitarian Foundation of the Year. The available record presents the foundation as an active Nigerian nonprofit whose identity rests on prosthetic access, disability awareness, inclusive education, anti-discrimination advocacy, and empowerment of young people with disabilities.

• 2017

  Humanitarian Foundation of the Year recognition

  [1]The Irede Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation was named Humanitarian Foundation of the Year at the Green October Event 2017.

• 2012

  Foundation established

  [1]The Irede Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Crystal Chigbu established The Irede Foundation in Nigeria to support children affected by congenital and acquired limb loss.

• Inclusive Education Project introduced

  [1]The Irede Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  TIF launched an initiative intended to help children with disabilities thrive in school and participate as their full selves in academic communities.

• Child-focused disability publications launched

  [1]The Irede Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization developed an inclusive magazine and a comic book to promote disability awareness and discourage discrimination and bullying.

A Nigerian child-focused disability-inclusion foundation that combines access to prosthetic limbs with education, anti-discrimination advocacy, and leadership development.

• Prosthetic support

  Artificial limbs

  TIF provides free or subsidized artificial limbs to children who cannot afford prosthetic care. Its Lagos laboratory assembles prosthetics, while the broader program addresses mobility, participation, and the practical barriers faced by children with congenital or acquired limb loss.

• Educational and advocacy materials

  Inclusive education resources

  The foundation’s educational output includes an Inclusive Education Project, an inclusive magazine for children, and a comic book related to disability. These resources are intended to improve understanding, support school participation, represent children with disabilities, and reduce discrimination and bullying.

• Disability leadership development

  Leadership Program

  Supported by Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, the Leadership Program is designed for young people with disabilities aged 18 to 30 across Nigeria. It focuses on leadership knowledge, practical skills, mindset, and the ability to build and sustain a desired career path.

• Out-on-a-Limb

  Nigeria · International outreach

  An annual advocacy walk that raises visibility for children living with disabilities and draws attention to peer discrimination and social exclusion.

  Outcome. The campaign supports public awareness and fundraising for disability inclusion and child prosthetic access.

  Source
• #Limitless Project

  Nigeria

  A partnership with Procter & Gamble focused on inclusive education by sensitizing teachers, parents, and communities. Its first edition was launched at Ikeja Junior and Senior High School in Lagos.

  Outcome. The project set an ambition to reach more than 1,000 children living with disabilities in public schools over two years.

  Source
• Inclusive Education Project

  Nigeria

  An initiative intended to ensure that children with disabilities can participate fully in academic environments and are not excluded because of disability.

  Outcome. The project contributes to TIF’s education-access and anti-discrimination goals.

  Source

• Combine prosthetic assistance with inclusion advocacyStrategy

  Background

  The high cost of prosthetic limbs and social barriers can limit children’s access to health care, schooling, and participation.

  Action taken

  TIF expanded beyond direct prosthetic support into inclusive education, public awareness, anti-bullying work, local-government engagement, and disability advocacy.

  Aftermath

  The foundation developed education projects, publications, advocacy walks, and partnerships aimed at broader disability inclusion.

  Source

• Develop partnerships for wider reachStrategy

  Background

  The foundation’s mission requires cooperation with schools, communities, government bodies, and corporate or philanthropic supporters.

  Action taken

  TIF worked with Procter & Gamble on the #Limitless Project and with Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation on a leadership program for young people with disabilities.

  Aftermath

  The partnerships broadened the organization’s work from prosthetic access into school inclusion and leadership development.

  Source

1. 1The Irede Foundationen.wikipedia.org