On this week’s Disability Matters, John Comiskey speaks with Funmilayo Akingbade—chef, caregiver, charity founder, and board member of Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living.
Wearing many hats, Funmilayo—known as Fumi—brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to her work. By profession, she is a chef working in a nursing home in Fingal, as well as taking on additional roles through agency work across various care settings. But beyond her professional life, her commitment to helping others extends far beyond the kitchen.
Fumi is also a board member of BCIL, where she contributes to decision-making and supports the organisation’s mission of promoting independent living. Her involvement grew naturally from a shared vision.
“I believe we have the same cause,” she explains. “Supporting people with disabilities to live better lives.”
Her passion for this work is closely connected to her own initiative—NCGI—a charity she founded to support people with disabilities and vulnerable communities in Nigeria.
The idea for NCGI came from a simple but powerful observation. While working in Ireland, Fumi noticed that large amounts of usable medical equipment—such as wheelchairs and crutches—were being discarded.
“I kept thinking—why are we throwing these things away, when I know there are people who desperately need them?”
Determined to act, she began collecting equipment herself, storing it, and eventually organising shipments to Nigeria. Funding these efforts entirely from her own wages, she took a careful and accountable approach, choosing to build the initiative gradually and sustainably.
“I wanted to start with what I have,” she says. “To make sure everything I do is transparent and accountable.”
What began as a one-person effort has now grown into a small but dedicated team of volunteers, all working toward the same goal—supporting those most in need.
Beyond medical supplies, NCGI’s work has expanded into other areas of support. One particularly powerful story is the sponsorship of a young student in Nigeria who had secured a place to study dentistry but was unable to attend due to financial barriers.
“For three years, he waited,” Fumi recalls. “He had the ability, but not the opportunity.”
With support from her family, Fumi helped fund his education. Today, he is in his third year of study—and thriving.
“He came out with top results,” she says. “He could have been lost, but now he has a future.”
The organisation also provides food support to older people living alone, particularly during festive periods, offering essential supplies and a sense of connection to those who may otherwise be forgotten.
At the heart of Fumi’s vision is a dream inspired by her years of experience working in care.
“My dream is to create a community kitchen,” she says. “A place where older people can come, eat, and talk. Sometimes, all someone needs is a cup of soup and a conversation.”
Having worked in a nursing home in Ireland for nearly two decades, she has seen first-hand the challenges faced by older people—especially isolation and loneliness.
“People who were once independent can no longer go out, meet friends, or even shop on their own,” she explains. “They just want connection.”
Her motivation, she says, comes from both personal values and faith—but also from a simple belief in kindness.
“It’s about being a good person,” she reflects. “When you make others happy, that’s where your energy comes from.”
Despite the demands of her work and personal life, Fumi continues to dedicate her time and resources to helping others—quietly, consistently, and with remarkable determination.
This interview aired on Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, a programme produced by Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living (BCIL).
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Compiled by Valentyna Hordiichuk