136 children in Nigeria receive prostheses and educational support

Monday, 30 September 2024

In August, the unique Together-4-A-Limb initiative in Nigeria celebrated its 10th anniversary in Lagos. As part of the initiative, 136 children have already received prosthetic treatment, giving them a new outlook on life. In addition, the children's future is also secured with an education trust fund worth 1.5 million naira. The initiator of Together-4-A-Limb is Stanbic IBTC Holdings, one of the leading banks in Nigeria. Ottobock’s official partner in Nigeria – IfeanHealth – provides the prostheses and facilitates the educational trust fund disbursements.

The celebrations were attended by leading stakeholders from public and private sectors. In addition to numerous inspiring speeches and acknowledgements, there was also an energetic workout session and dance performances. Dr. Demola Sogunle, Group Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings pledged to the beneficiaries that they “will not be stranded at any point in life. We will be there for you, and we will be willing and ready to assist. For jobs, you can come to Stanbic IBTC as interns, as graduate trainees and you can go out there to fulfil your dreams and aspirations.”

The annual Together-4-A Limb Walk

A special highlight was the annual Together-4-A Limb Walk. The walk takes place along one of Lagos' most famous avenues and honors the children living with limb loss. At the same time, it also aims to raise awareness of the issue of prosthetics in Nigeria. “When a child receives a prosthesis and goes to school, the mother is also able to get back to her life and to work. This transforms the entire family's socio-economic profile and the community at large…a lasting impact far beyond just mobility”.

A Model of Sustainable Progress for Africa

While limb provision is T4AL's hallmark, complementary programs such as Day-in-the-Life (chronicling a day in the lives of beneficiaries) and Day-at-the-Camp (a unique bootcamp competition) have emerged, enhancing its overall impact.

Through such community intervention programs, we can achieve measurable success in society, sustainably transform challenges into opportunities and create a better future for many families and communities in Africa. A big thank you to Stanbic IBTC and IfeanHealth for their commitment to supporting these children and changing their lives forever!