Foundation Seeks Partners for 2026 Caregiver Support and Disability Inclusion Initiative
ABUJA, Nigeria – The MKO Temitope Foundation for Special Needs Children and Caregivers has called on corporate organisations, healthcare professionals and public-spirited individuals to support its 2026 Mitcheal Legacy and Caregivers’ Support Initiative.
Scheduled for October 25 to 29, 2026, in Abuja, the programme will commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Mitcheal Kehinde Oluwadrasimi, who lived with cerebral palsy for 14 years.
With the theme, “From Remembrance to Impact: Supporting Caregivers, Promoting Inclusion,” the initiative seeks to transform Mitcheal’s memory into practical assistance for children with special needs and those who care for them.
According to the foundation, Mitcheal’s life highlighted an important but frequently overlooked reality: while children with special needs require sustained care and support, society must not neglect the physical, emotional and financial needs of their caregivers.
Dr Tinuke Temitope, Founder of the MKO Temitope Foundation, said the initiative was inspired by the lessons her family learned while caring for Mitcheal.
“Mitcheal taught us that behind every child with special needs is often a caregiver making enormous sacrifices, frequently without adequate support or recognition. As we remember him, we want his life to become a source of hope and practical assistance to other children and families. Supporting the caregiver ultimately strengthens the care and opportunities available to the child,” she said.
The programme will include visits to secondary schools, where students will be educated about disability, inclusion, kindness, bullying and respectful interaction with persons with special needs. The campaign is expected to reach more than 500 students.
Approximately 20 caregivers will also participate in health education, encouragement and peer-support sessions. A special wellness programme will provide them with an opportunity to rest, relax, receive personal care and focus on their own wellbeing.
The foundation said children with special needs would receive practical assistance based on assessed individual needs and the resources available.
Research supports the foundation’s focus on caregivers. A 2024 study involving 96 caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in Rivers State found low quality-of-life scores across most of the areas assessed. The researchers concluded that cerebral palsy care should include measures to protect and improve caregivers’ health and wellbeing.
Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions affecting movement, balance and posture. It is recognised by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the most common motor disability in childhood. Its effects vary considerably, with some children requiring substantial daily assistance.
The initiative’s school sensitisation component is also significant because children with disabilities in Nigeria continue to face stigma, misconceptions, bullying and barriers to inclusive education, despite the protections provided by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act.
To fund the programme, the foundation has introduced five partnership categories: Legacy Partner at ₦2 million, Impact Partner at ₦1 million, Inclusion Partner at ₦500,000, Caregiver Support Partner at ₦250,000 and Friend of the Foundation at ₦100,000.
Individuals and organisations may also support the programme by providing medical or therapy services, food, transportation, printing, educational materials, wellness services, assistive devices and other relevant products or professional services.
Dr Temitope called on businesses, healthcare providers, development organisations and individuals to support the initiative through funding, essential products or professional expertise.
“This is more than a memorial programme. It is an invitation to build a society in which children with special needs are treated with dignity, caregivers are supported, and no family is left to face the journey alone,” she added.
The foundation believes the initiative will help caregivers recognise that they are not alone, promote more compassionate attitudes towards disability and provide practical assistance to families raising children with special needs.
Through the programme, Mitcheal’s story will become more than a remembrance. It will serve as a platform for inclusion, caregiver wellbeing and hope for other families.
Further information about Mitcheal’s life and the foundation’s work is available on the MKO Temitope Foundation website https://mkotemitopefoundation.org.ng/the-light-we-called-mitcheal/#
