I Am Able Nigeria, set up by the pageant's 2014
winner Jacqueline Ilumoka, aims to raise funds to purchase wheelchairs, crutches, ramps and other mobility aids.
Ilumoka told The Voice: "As winner of Miss Black.Africa UK, part of my mandate is to implement a charity project of my choice so I chose to focus on.people with disabilities in Africa.
"Last year leading up to the [pageant] finals, I was working with a charity in the UK that supported people with disabilities and it really just spurred me on to focus my own charity work on a similar area."
According to Ilumoka's charity, many Nigerians with disabilities are living below the poverty line unable to afford the necessary mobility equipment to move around. Many resort to begging on the streets as they are denied access to employment and educational opportunities.
Facilities are "not physical disability friendly. Public buildings, transport systems and academic institutions are hostile to people with disabilities and moving around can be extremely difficult for these groups".
Ilumoka's campaign aims to raise funds for mobility aids for The School of the Handicapped in Ogun State, Nigeria, to encourage independence for these individuals.
The beauty queen said: "I Am Able Nigeria
addresses the problem of stigmatisation. Our aim is to change public opinion towards this group and stop the exclusion of the physically handicapped through an awareness campaign."
On why charity work is so important to her, Ilumoka told The Voice: "I'm a woman of faith and I believe God always gives us gifts not so we can just keep them to ourselves but so we can bless others.
"I believe in supporting the less privileged because you never know when you will be in a situation when you need help. Its only by grace that I live in this country with a roof over my head, food to eat, abled bodied, many didn't choose to be in the position that they are in but it can happen to anyone."
She continued: "So why not be a blessing to others so you can also be blessed too? It's all about making your life count and trying to make a difference. People say 'you can't help everyone everywher'" but you can still help someone somewhere."
As well as setting up a crowd-funding donation
page, Ilumoka will also be hosting a charity
fundraiser gala in the next few weeks, which include a fashion show, auction, three-course meal and entertainment.
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