Group targets N500m to support children with disabilities
The Concert for Change Foundation has set a target of N500 million to support vulnerable children, orphans and charities providing services to children living with disabilities across Nigeria through this year’s Green Worship benefit concert.
The foundation announced the target at a press conference in Lagos ahead of Green Worship 9.0, scheduled for Saturday, October 10, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
The fundraising target is more than double the N210 million the foundation said it has raised and disbursed since its establishment in 2006 under the Worship for Change initiative. According to the organisation, previous editions of the concert have supported 49 charities and reached more than 8,000 children.
Founder and Managing Trustee of Green Worship, Wale Adenuga, said six charities would benefit from this year’s fundraising.
“Our goal is to raise 500 million Naira for these charities. If we raise beyond our target, there are other charities that are on standby that we’re open to helping,” he said.
The beneficiaries are OAKonsult Disabilities Outreach, Ogbomosho; Lokola School for the Deaf and Special Needs; Excellent Child Support Initiative, Ikorodu; Festus Fajemilo Foundation, Abule Egba; AIM Special Children Centre, Kaduna; and Irede Foundation, Lagos.
Their needs range from specialised education and rehabilitation to prosthetic limbs, transportation and infrastructure.
Some previous beneficiaries said the concert had provided significant support for their work. Executive Director of Irede Foundation, Crystal Chigbu, said funding received from the initiative previously helped the organisation provide a prosthetic limb to a 17-year-old girl who lost a limb in an accident.
“The child was able to get back to living her life to the fullest,” she said, adding that the foundation hopes to use this year’s support to provide prosthetic limbs for at least 10 children and help them return to school.
Founder of OAKonsult Disabilities Outreach, Olufunke Adeloye, said her organisation, established in 2021, was inspired by her experience of having a child who was medically mismanaged at 18 months.
She called for a change in society’s perception of children living with disabilities and their families, stressing the need for greater inclusion and support.
Co-Founder of the Festus Fajemilo Foundation, Afolabi Fajemilo, said Green Worship provides charities with an important platform to mobilise resources and draw attention to the needs of vulnerable children.
The organisers said the campaign was not dependent on a single large donor, but would rely on contributions from individuals, families, businesses, churches and other organisations.
A member of the planning committee, Kunle Popoola, urged Nigerians and corporate organisations to support the initiative, saying the funds would help differently abled, indigent and orphaned children access education and participate more fully in society.
Artistes scheduled to perform at Green Worship 9.0 include Nathaniel Bassey, Bob Fitts, Ada Ehi, Kaestrings, Pelumi Deborah, Chimi Ochei, Ccioma and Gospel Force.
Adenuga said the beneficiaries’ stories remained as important to the initiative as the music and entertainment featured at the concert.
Fundraising will continue after the event through the foundation’s 21 Days of Giving campaign, which begins on October 11.
The foundation said it verifies beneficiaries, monitors the utilisation of funds and provides public reports on how donations are deployed.
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