As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s Cerebral Palsy Day, parents of children living with the condition in Kwara State have expressed frustration over widespread stigma, neglect and economic hardship.
Speaking at an event held at the Ministry of Social Development yesterday, the parents told journalists that the country’s current socio-economic realities have worsened their children’s situation, leaving them isolated and discriminated against in their communities.
Mrs Afolabi Jumoke said: “It’s not easy carrying and taking these children out. We want the state government to take full responsibility for the physiotherapy treatment of these children. They use diapers and the drugs they take are quite expensive. Most private schools don’t take the kids.”
Another parent, Mrs Olubunmi Aina, said children with cerebral palsy are often rejected in private schools across the state. She explained that even when admitted, other parents sometimes threaten to withdraw their children, forcing schools to eventually turn them away.
She added that discrimination extends to public places such as barbershops and restaurants. “Giving birth to this child has brought me closer to God. I’ve turned into a barber because of him. Many barbing salons won’t do his hair. Many people refuse to do their hair with a salon that accepts to barb him as if it’s contagious,” she said.
“It’s not easy taking care of the education cost of these children. We call for financial support from the government. We actually want the state government to provide all-expenses-paid education for cerebral palsy children. Many of us parents have left our tangible jobs to concentrate on full care of these children. We don’t want to be locking them up inside our homes,” she added.
The parents appealed to the state government to subsidise essential drugs and launch public awareness campaigns to combat what they described as persistent stigma.
Speaking earlier, Commissioner for Social Development Dr Mariam NnaFatima Imam urged the public to show understanding, respect and offer equal opportunities to children with cerebral palsy.
She said the day was a reminder “not only of the challenges faced by our champions, but also of their strength, resilience, and extraordinary potential. Cerebral palsy is not a limitation of the human spirit. It is a call for understanding, inclusion, and shared responsibility. It urges us to look beyond disability and see ability; to look beyond challenges and recognise possibility.”
Imam noted that the government was committed to ensuring that no child is left behind. “Every child, regardless of physical or developmental differences, deserves the chance to live with dignity, to learn, to play, and to dream freely,” she said.
According to her, the ministry has enrolled some people living with cerebral palsy in the state’s Health Insurance Scheme to ensure access to quality healthcare.
“We have also equipped parents and guardians with refined, income-generating skills in tie and dye, resin artistry, and POS enterprise management, further complemented by financial support designed to help them transform these skills into sustainable, independent and thriving ventures,” she added.
Convener of the event and Chief Executive Officer of Ifeoluwa Cerebral Palsy Initiative, Ifeoluwa Anishe, described the day as a moment of hope and unity. He called for the inclusion of adults living with cerebral palsy in governance, saying they deserve dignity and equal opportunities.
The CEO of Toomore School for Basic and Vocational and Special Needs, Rev. Samuel Ajayi, commended the state government and organisers, adding that he had learnt lessons that would help improve his charity school.
Meanwhile, Dr Sholagbade Rasheedat of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital delivered a lecture on the causes, management and prevention of cerebral palsy.
