OAKonsult Disabilities Outreach, a non-governmental organization promoting the rights and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), has intensified its advocacy in Ogbomoso through a new support initiative aimed at empowering families and individuals living with disabilities to live dignified and purposeful lives.
The group, backed by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye (Orumogege III), recently held a disability awareness and remembrance rally in honour of the late Toyitan Abigail, a PwD child whose story continues to inspire inclusion efforts in the community.
The rally, which brought together schools, civil society groups, and residents, sought to promote awareness, end discrimination, and celebrate the resilience of PwDs. Participants marched through key parts of Ogbomoso, including the Soun’s Palace, Bowen University Teaching Hospital, the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), Takie Junction, Oke-Elerin Junction, and Oja Igbo, calling for equal access and recognition.
During the courtesy visit to his palace, Oba Olaoye commended the organisation’s work and pledged royal support for its mission.
“What you’re doing is heartwarming and commendable. We will continue to support you both morally and financially. I pray that your vision comes to fruition,” the monarch said.
Chief Executive Officer of OAKonsult, Olufunke Adeloye, said the initiative was born from personal experience and the determination to ensure that children with disabilities receive care, inclusion, and opportunities for growth.
“Our advocacy stems from pain and purpose; the loss of a child with disability inspired this mission,” she said. “We are building a future where every child, regardless of ability, can learn, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Adeloye also called for public and institutional support toward completing the OAK PRIME Centre, a purpose-built support facility located in Oolo, Oriire Local Council of Ogbomoso.
“The center, once completed, will serve as a hub for therapy, learning, and rehabilitation for children and young people with disabilities,” she explained.
According to Itunuade Iyun, OAKonsult’s Country Director, the planned center is a “one-stop support facility” capable of serving between 800 and 1,000 children, providing access to therapy, skill-building, and community integration programs.
Similarly, Deji Irawo, a member of the organization’s advisory board, described the initiative as part of OAKonsult’s broader commitment to building inclusive social infrastructure that contributes to national development.
Through sustained advocacy, partnerships, and on-the-ground empowerment projects, OAKonsult Disabilities Outreach continues to position disability inclusion as both a human rights and a development issue, one that holds potential for social impact, innovation, and sustainable community growth in Nigeria.
