Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie is a wife, a mother, an entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate based in Lagos, Nigeria. She and her husband are proud parents to two children, Ugo and Simone. Her advocacy journey took flight when her daughter, Simone, was diagnosed late with Down syndrome, resulting in heart complications during infancy. Simone’s recovery became a catalyst for Tonye’s commitment to special needs advocacy.
Drawing from her successful career as a TV and film producer, Tonye recognised a significant lack of representation for black and African children, particularly those with special needs. This spurred her to create “Ugo and Sim Sim,” the world’s first picture book series featuring a black main character with Down syndrome.
Tonye founded the Simone’s Oasis Foundation, an organisation that merges creativity with advocacy to reshape societal views on special needs and neurodiversity. The foundation uses storytelling and artistic expression to challenge norms and showcase the potential of every child, regardless of their abilities. Their advocacy spans books, music, music videos, animation, podcasts, and documentaries