City Boy Movement Donates Mobility Aids To Persons With Disabilities In Igbo-Ora, Promises Statewide Outreach

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IBADAN – The Oyo State chapter of the City Boy Movement (CBM) on Friday donated mobility aids to about 300 persons with disabilities in the Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of the state as part of the ongoing efforts to promote inclusion and improve the welfare of vulnerable members of the society.

The outreach programme, held at the Community Hall in Igbo-Ora, saw the distribution of 116 motorised wheelchairs, five pairs of crutches, 20 walking sticks, 10 walking frames, and other assistive devices to beneficiaries of different age groups to enhance their mobility and independence.

Speaking during the distribution, the Director-General of the City Boy Movement in Oyo State, Hon. Olufemi Onireti, said the initiative reflected the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service and the welfare of persons living with disabilities.

Onireti explained that the outreach was one of several community-based interventions being implemented by the group across the state, noting that a similar programme had earlier been conducted in Ogbomoso.

According to him, the initiative would soon be extended to other parts of Oyo State, including Oke-Ogun and Ibadan, to ensure that more persons with disabilities benefit from the intervention.

“We are here to support our special people with mobility equipment that will make life easier for them. This is not our first intervention, and it will certainly not be the last. We are determined to take this programme to other zones across the state,” he said.

Responding to suggestions that the exercise was politically motivated ahead of the 2027 general elections, Onireti dismissed the claims, insisting that the programme was purely humanitarian.

“I am not contesting for any political office. This is simply about touching lives and giving hope to people who need support. Our focus is service to humanity,” he stated.

He further pledged to continue advocating greater inclusion for persons with disabilities, expressing optimism that more initiatives aimed at improving their welfare would be introduced in the future.

Also speaking, the Director for Persons with Disabilities of the City Boy Movement in Oyo State, Dr. Adebambo Olabisi, described the donation as a significant intervention that would positively impact the daily lives of the beneficiaries.

He noted that many persons with disabilities had struggled for years due to a lack of mobility aids, adding that the donated equipment would enable them to move around more freely and participate more actively in social and economic activities.

“Our people have waited for opportunities like this for a long time. These mobility aids will restore confidence, improve their independence, and make life more meaningful for many of them,” he said.

While acknowledging requests from beneficiaries for business grants and economic empowerment, Olabisi assured them that the organisation was considering additional interventions beyond the provision of mobility equipment.

“This is only the beginning. We are taking it one step at a time, and we hope to introduce more programmes that will economically empower persons with disabilities in the near future,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Saidat Odesanmi expressed appreciation to the City Boy Movement for what she described as a timely and impactful intervention.

She said the mobility aids would significantly improve the quality of life of the recipients but appealed to governments at all levels, corporate organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to complement such efforts with vocational training, financial support, and employment opportunities to ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in society.

The outreach attracted community leaders, youth representatives, disability advocates, and residents, who commended the initiative and urged other organisations to emulate the gesture by supporting vulnerable groups across the country.