For years, many of them believed life had come to a standstill. Some lost legs, others arms, while a few suffered severe workplace injuries that left them unable to work, care for their families or even move without assistance. Depression, frustration and uncertainty became their daily companions.

But, last week in Abuja, hope returned for 78 workers as the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) presented prosthetic limbs to beneficiaries under its Employees’ Compensation Scheme, giving them a fresh opportunity to rebuild their lives after devastating workplace accidents.

The beneficiaries, drawn from different parts of the country and fitted with prostheses according to the nature of their injuries, expressed joy as they took their first confident steps towards independence once again.

Speaking during the presentation of the final report on the current phase of the Prosthesis Provision Exercise, Managing Director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, said the completion of the programme was made possible through the commitment of all stakeholders.

Represented by the Executive Director (Operations), Mojisola Alli Macaulay, Faleye said the cooperation of prosthesis providers, employers, beneficiaries and the fund’s monitoring team ensured the intervention achieved its objectives.

“The cooperation and commitment demonstrated by the prosthesis providers, beneficiaries, employers, and the monitoring team greatly contributed to the successful completion of this intervention.

“The providers also demonstrated flexibility by accommodating special clinical needs, including the provision of a hip disarticulation prosthesis where necessary,” he said.

Faleye explained that following the commencement of the prosthesis provision exercise in April 2026, the Claims and Compensation Department of NSITF monitored the programme from inception until its successful completion.

He said every beneficiary captured under the approved programme was professionally assessed, fitted with appropriate prosthetic devices, trained on their use and discharged after satisfactory evaluation.

“Se quel to the interim report submitted previously, I am pleased to report that the prosthesis provision exercise has now been successfully concluded. All identified beneficiaries under the approved programme have been assessed, fitted with the appropriate prostheses, trained on their use, and discharged after satisfactory evaluation,” he said.

He added that where some beneficiaries could not participate because they could not be reached, declined to attend after notification or had died, they were replaced with persons from the supplementary list to ensure the programme was fully implemented.

The intervention covered a broad range of disabilities, including eight above-knee prostheses, one hip disarticulation prosthesis, 11 below-knee prostheses, 12 below-elbow prostheses, five above-elbow prostheses, one trans-humeral prosthesis and 40 silicone partial hand prostheses. Overall, all 78 beneficiaries scheduled under the programme were successfully fitted and discharged.

General Manager, Claims and Compensation, Mrs. Nkiru Ede-Ogunnaike, said the exercise went beyond simply providing artificial limbs, noting that beneficiaries underwent comprehensive rehabilitation that included assessment, measurements, fabrication, fitting, gait training, functional training, evaluation and final discharge.

She said the exercise had significantly transformed the lives of the beneficiaries.

“The prostheses were successfully fitted, and beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the services rendered. Discharge letters stating completion and warranty with the beneficiaries’ satisfaction forms have been duly completed and filed in their respective dossiers.

“In conclusion, the prosthesis provision programme achieved its intended objectives and has been completed successfully. The exercise has significantly improved the mobility, functionality, and quality of life of the beneficiaries while fulfilling the Fund’s mandate of providing appropriate rehabilitation support to eligible employees who sustained work-related disabilities,” she stated.

For many at the ceremony, however, the statistics were overshadowed by the personal stories of resilience.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Solomon Sunday, an employee of Zodoson Industries in Abia State, struggled to hide his emotions as he described how a workplace accident had almost destroyed his future before NSITF intervened.

He said many of the beneficiaries had resigned themselves to hopelessness after losing their limbs.

“We are deeply grateful to the fund and appreciate NSITF for all they have done for us and have been doing. You can see how excited and happy I am as a young man who can look forward to a bright future and the fund has given me opportunity to acquire new skill to earn a living.

“Honestly, we are deeply grateful and thank God for using NSITF to change our stories.”

His testimony drew applause from fellow beneficiaries, many of whom smiled as they walked confidently with their new prosthetic limbs, visible symbols of lives interrupted by workplace accidents but now restored with renewed hope, dignity and the promise of a brighter future. (Nigerian Tribune)