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Smiles is underway for persons with disabilities and the vulnerable groups as a foundation for will bring succour to them.
YASA foundation targets the less privileges will be unveiled next Saturday for the soul aim of assisting them .
The Yeye Afolashade Sona Alauko (YASA) Foundation has pledged to expand support for persons with disabilities, vulnerable children, women and older persons as it prepares to officially unveil its humanitarian initiatives in Lagos on November 14, 2026.
The Founder, Dr Afolashade Shona-Aluko, also known as Yeye Bobajiroro Oodua, disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference held in Lagos said the Foundation was established to promote dignity, equal opportunities and improved living conditions for disadvantaged members of society, particularly those whose access to healthcare, education, protection and economic opportunities remained limited.
According to her, the organisation would concentrate its interventions on five key areas: healthcare, rehabilitation and assistive support; inclusive education, skills development and livelihood opportunities; protection and advocacy; disability inclusion and social awareness; as well as partnerships and institutional sustainability.
Shona-Aluko explained that the Foundation would facilitate access to healthcare services, rehabilitation programmes and assistive devices while providing vocational training and skills acquisition opportunities to help vulnerable individuals achieve economic independence.
She disclosed that before its formal establishment, the organisation had conducted several humanitarian interventions across Lagos State, including health outreaches that provided physiotherapy and speech therapy support for children living with cerebral palsy.
The Foundation, she added, had also distributed white canes to persons with visual impairments to improve their mobility and independence, alongside training and empowerment programmes for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
She said the experiences gained from these interventions informed the decision to establish a structured organisation that could sustain and expand its humanitarian activities.
The Founder stressed that the Foundation was determined to move beyond promises by implementing practical programmes that would produce measurable improvements in the lives of beneficiaries.
She, however, identified collaboration, accountability and sustained commitment as critical to achieving its objectives, calling for partnerships with government institutions, corporate organisations, development agencies, traditional institutions, civil society groups and philanthropists.
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On the forthcoming launch, she said the event would formally introduce the Foundation, unveil its identity, present its vision and strategic direction, and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to explore areas of collaboration.
She said government representatives, traditional rulers, development partners, philanthropists, advocates for women and children, and disability inclusion champions were expected at the event.
Shona-Aluko called on governments at all levels, corporate organisations, international development agencies, religious institutions and well-meaning Nigerians to support the Foundation through programme sponsorship, technical assistance, capacity building and strategic partnerships.
She particularly urged corporate organisations to make disability inclusion and social welfare important components of their corporate social responsibility programmes.
The Founder also appealed to the media to amplify the voices and experiences of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, noting that responsible reporting could help shape public perception and promote social inclusion.
She urged journalists to tell stories that promote dignity rather than pity, empowerment rather than dependency, and inclusion rather than discrimination.
According to her, the true measure of a society lies not only in the achievements of privileged individuals but also in how it treats its vulnerable members.
She said the Foundation was committed to building a society where children with disabilities could pursue their dreams, vulnerable women could access economic opportunities and older persons could enjoy dignity and care.
Yeye Bobajiro Oodua, ahead of the official unveiling and launch scheduled to hold at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, by 11:00 a.m.
said the Foundation was established out of the conviction that everyone deserves dignity, respect, equal opportunities and the chance to live a meaningful life, irrespective of physical condition, economic circumstances or social background.
She explained that its interventions would focus on five major areas, including healthcare, rehabilitation and assistive support; inclusive education, skills development and livelihood opportunities; protection and advocacy; disability inclusion and social awareness; as well as partnerships and institutional sustainability.
