Victoria Ojiako
YASA Foundation, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to bettering the lives of individuals with disabilities and different weak members of society, is ready to unveil its actions publicly after 15 years of humanitarian interventions, with a name on authorities, company organisations, philanthropists and growth companions to help its mission.
The basis made this identified at a press convention forward of its official unveiling scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2026, on the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Speaking on the briefing, its Founder, Yeye (Dr.) Afolashade Shona-Aluko, Yeye Bobajiro Oodua, defined that the disclosing was meant to carry the inspiration’s actions to wider public consideration and appeal to partnerships to broaden its interventions.
She confused that the occasion didn’t mark the start of its humanitarian journey however a transfer to encourage collective duty because the calls for of its actions continued to develop.
“Let me stop doing it alone. When it is getting too much and I feel that my power cannot carry it, I say let me unveil it for everyone to see and join me. That is the meaning of the unveiling,” she stated.
15 Years of Humanitarian Interventions
Recounting a few of its actions, Shona-Aluko disclosed that the inspiration had supported schooling, expertise growth and weak teams through the years.
One of its interventions was at Ikeja High School, the place it offered extra educating help after figuring out a scarcity of lecturers. She stated the inspiration had sustained the initiative for roughly 9 years, personally paying the lecturers’ salaries with out exterior monetary help.
She additionally highlighted efforts to empower feminine artisans and expert ladies, notably tailors, via the availability of outlets and workspaces in Ondo State and different components of the nation.
According to her, the initiatives have been geared toward serving to ladies practise their trades, earn a residing and obtain financial independence.
“Nothing is too small to support a person in need. Whatever is in your hands that you think you can give, please give,” she appealed.
The founder disclosed that beneficiaries of the inspiration’s incapacity interventions included blind and deaf individuals in addition to kids residing with cerebral palsy.
She defined that the inspiration identifies beneficiaries via incapacity associations and organised teams, participating their networks to perceive their wants.
Among its interventions are physiotherapy and speech remedy periods for kids with cerebral palsy, a few of that are organised each Saturday.
The basis has additionally distributed white canes to individuals with visible impairments to help their mobility and independence.
Shona-Aluko, nevertheless, emphasised that individuals with disabilities shouldn’t be outlined by their circumstances, noting that many possess abilities and talents that may be developed when given alternatives.
She cited blind individuals working as lecturers, mathematicians, singers and textile producers, together with these concerned in adire and Kampala manufacturing.
Funding and Growing Need for Support
Explaining how the inspiration has sustained its actions, she stated most interventions had been financed via her private assets.
However, she acknowledged that the growing calls for had made wider help crucial, therefore the choice to formally unveil the organisation.
She disclosed that the inspiration was working in the direction of offering wheelchairs, specialised tools and different important supplies to beneficiaries.
She particularly talked about requests from some individuals with disabilities for freezers to allow them to set up small companies, together with the sale of sachet water.
She stated the target was to assist beneficiaries develop into economically unbiased somewhat than rely solely on periodic help.
The founder additionally inspired Nigerians who have been sceptical about humanitarian appeals to go to beneficiaries and confirm their wants earlier than providing help.
Five Key Areas of Intervention
Outlining its strategic course, she recognized 5 areas of focus: healthcare, rehabilitation and assistive help; inclusive schooling, expertise growth and livelihood alternatives; safety and advocacy; incapacity inclusion and social consciousness; and partnerships, institutional growth and sustainability.
These areas, she defined, would information programmes geared toward bettering entry to healthcare, schooling, vocational coaching, safety and financial alternatives for weak Nigerians.
Call for Government, Corporate Partnerships
Shona-Aluko referred to as on authorities in any respect ranges, company organisations, philanthropists, conventional establishments, spiritual our bodies and growth companions to collaborate with the inspiration.
She urged company organisations to incorporate incapacity inclusion and social welfare into their company social duty programmes, stressing that sustainable interventions required greater than occasional donations.
In her closing remarks, she urged Nigerians not to look down on individuals due to their bodily circumstances or monetary circumstances.
She maintained that individuals with disabilities deserved equal dignity, respect and alternatives, including that society should transfer past sympathy to creating sensible alternatives for weak individuals to stay independently and take part totally in group life.
