Hope Builders For The Physically Challenged Foundation Holds Expo, Showcases Artworks, Solicits Govt Support

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Hope Builders for the Physically Challenged Foundation, envisioned to create a world where people with disabilities have equal opportunities to realize their full potential, participate fully in society, and contribute to their communities, on June 26, 2026, organised a Micro-Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

The event which covered Exhibitions by Entrepreneurs with disabilities;
Panel Discussions and Talks on Business and Entrepreneurship Growth, took place at Oracle Bible Revival Assembly, Ijaiye, Mushin/Itire, Lagos State.

Sponsored by SMEDAN, British Council and Denny Social Welfare Hub, the theme of the programme was the Future Generation of Micro-Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

Speaking to Journalists, Abosade Mary Otukpe, a Social Welfare worker, a certified humanitarian, and the Executive Director of Denny Social Welfare Hub said, “We are here to support Hope Builders Foundation, a group of persons with disabilities, convened by Dr Mrs Christiana Kehinde Akinrinmade, we have been supporting them for over five years now.

This exhibition is for persons living with disabilities to showcase their handcrafts; they use beads to do bags, they do soap making, even some brought farm products, I am surprised to see persons with visual impairment prepering shawarma.

Any year we come here we see new things, it amazes me that people that cannot see are doing a whole lot, so they need to be showcased to the world.

People need to know that they are selling all these things, we are looking for how the government can come in and help out and big organisations too can come in also to assist them. They actually need money for their productions. If they have funding they will do more.”

Also currently the State Coordinator for Civil Society Network for Migration and Development, Otukpe further called on the government to assist the physically challenged, adding that many of them have families to feed.

“We want government to support their production financially because they all have families, their children have to go to school; all these handcrafts, they do them in their various homes, if you have a shop and at the end of the day it is not renewed, that is a problem on its own. All they need is empowerment.”

Engr Samuel Akinrinmade, son of the Founder of Hope Builders Foundation and a member of Board of Directors also stated, “This event was designed to show the craft work of people with disabilities; there is this adage which says that there is ability in disability.

“The platform is all about SME. Today is SME day, a day we celebrate people with disabilities and showcase them to the society, that there is still ability in disability.”

Adigun Olawale Monsuru, is visually impaired man, married and has four children, he said, “I produce bead bags, picture frames which we use beads to make, and different things we use beads to make, key holders are there and different types of purse. I began this over 13 years ago when I lost my sight.

Adigun was not born blind, “I was sighted before, while in primary school, secondary school, I was sighted, along the line this issue of the eyes came up, then from one hospital to another to take care of my eyes, but all to no avail.

“That is the way God wanted it, but so far as I am alive, I cannot say because I am not seeing again I cannot be useful.

“So when this happened to me I went to a vocational training centre where the visually impaired were learning skills, that is where I learnt all these things I am doing,” he said.

Adenike Bolarinwa, a visually impaired woman said the expo has helped her, “This exhibition is to showcase our products and for people to come and buy. We the visually impaired we have a lot of work we do, for me I make bags, air freshener, perfume, etc. that is what is bringing food to my table. I was not born blind, when my eyes problem started, my husband ran away and I have three children.”

The Founder of Hope Builders for the Physically challenged Foundation is no other person than Dr Mrs Christiana Kehinde Akinrinmade.