By Josephine Agbonkhese

Forty couples from across Nigeria were, on Friday, awarded IVF grants by the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, under its Project 40at40 initiative; an initiative aimed at enabling them begin an all-expense paid process of assisted reproduction, In-Vitro Fertilization and other fertility treatments.​

This is coming barely four months after the launch of the initiative said to be in accordance with the wishes of the foundation’s late founder, Ibidunni Ighodalo.

Speaking at a breakfast session whose climax was the unveiling of the recipients of the grants in Lagos, Chairman of the foundation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, said Project 40at40 which tallies with the 40th birthday of his late wife, was targeted at easing the burden of parents in need of assisted reproduction but are financially incapable.

According to Ighodalo, the over 1,500 applications received following the call for couples in need of such intervention, confirms the urgent need for intervention in this regard.

He said: “This is what prompted Ibidunni to set up this foundation; the large number of people going through fertility-related challenges, and the fact that treatments are usually in the millions, which many cannot afford.’’

Ighodalo, who thanked all well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies that donated towards the initiative, admitted that the dream would not have been possible without their support.

While fielding questions from Vanguard Allure, the Executive Director of the foundation, Adedayo Richards, said the foundation would be working with six fertility clinics for the project.

The Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, IIF, is a non-profit organisation created to raise awareness on issues pertaining to infertility and to provide grants for couples that require fertility treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization, IVF, and Intrauterine Insemination.

The foundation also provides psychological and spiritual support that couples require to deal with the pressures faced during the journey to conception.