Crystal Chigbu
Crystal Chigbu is a Nigerian social entrepreneur, a Development Consultant and an activist. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Irede Foundation, a platform providing recycled prosthetic legs and other walking aids to children between the ages of 2 and 18. Through the Irede foundation, Crystal Chigbu has provided over 180 prosthetic limbs for different children across Nigeria.
Sparked from personal experience, Crystal continues to put a smile on the faces of several children who were either born without shinbones or need walking aids to living a normal life. She is dedicated to improving the lives of children and teens living with disabilities. She constantly advocates for child amputees via her medium, while working closely with professionals and the community to ensure they live a self-sufficient and fulfilled life. Crystal is a social change enthusiast who’s passionate about de-stigmatizing disability. She believes disability is a mind game that can be controlled when proper care is given.
Crystal graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Lagos and obtained a certificate in Social Sector Management from Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-African University.
Crystal was previously Sales and Marketing Manager with over 7 years’ professional experience in a multinational consumer goods company, Procter and Gamble (P&G). Additionally, she also worked as Market Strategy/Planning Manager and Baby Channel Leader at the company. However, after meeting a double amputee and helping her raise funds for prosthetics, Crystal decided to quit her job to focus fully on supporting children without limbs.
Crystal is a member of various corporate and social organisations like the Business and Professional Women of Nigeria and the Nigerian Network of NGOs. She is a fellow of the Acumen fellowship program.
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Through the Irede foundation, Crystal brings hope, joy and purposeful living to all children living with limb loss, including their families and caregivers. She is optimistic and determined to work towards a more inclusive society for all children. In a few years, Crystal hopes to have over 10,000 people talking about the inclusiveness of children that have been amputated around the world and raise champions of child amputees.
The Irede foundation encourages children and their parents via support groups and helps integrate them back to the school system after their rehabilitation.