With Nigeria’s poverty rate at 38.8 per cent and inflation at 33.6 per cent, it was a beautiful sight to behold over 3,000 Nigerians benefiting from this year’s Ijebu Boys Association Free Medical and Food Provision Outreach. The programme kicked off on June 6 at the De-Millennium Hall, Ijebu Ode Local Government Secretariat, with the opening ceremony attended by several special guests.
Notable among them were the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Dr. Sunny Kuku, who is Vice Chairman of EKO Hospital; Gbegande of Ososaland, Oba Adetoye Alatishe, who is also a medical doctor; a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly in the Second Republic, Prof. Bankole Okuwa, who is also a socio-political researcher; and Managing Director of PetroOrganico Nigeria Limited, Otunba Kunle Ogunade.
Other distinguished attendees included Chief Medical Director of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Olubunmi Fatungase, who represented Chairman of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Dr. Kunle Hassan; Chief Medical Director of DisShol Medical Centre and Rehabilitation Home, Dr. Oladisun Odunsi; Dr. Tola Fayomi, representing the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Toni Coker; Managing Director of Olumayowa Pharmacy, Chief Olumuyiwa Okenla; and Barrister James Omotara, representing Chief Fassy Yusuf, former Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports.
President of Ijebu Boys Association, Mr. Olagbuyi Oduniyi thanked the special guests and traditional institution for their continued support. He expressed joy and gratitude to God for enabling the association to carry out the project smoothly in spite of the challenging economic conditions in the country. “We are very grateful to God for His benevolence and mercy, enabling our association to continuously deliver on this huge task. The joy we bring to the vulnerable in our society is our pride. When they arrive looking pitiful and leave with joy after receiving medical care and food, we feel accomplished. We all know the government alone cannot do it, so I implore other organizations to help the needy.
“We are a non-profit, non-political association. This project, the fifth in the series, is self-sponsored by our members. During COVID-19, we could not hold the program, but we distributed food to elderly residents in Ijebuland. Our members took the risk to personally distribute the food items. I want to thank our guests of honor, members who flew in from the United States and Europe, and all our donors. Thanks to Rite Foods Limited for supplying us with Bigi water and other drinks, and the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government for providing the venue free of charge. I thank everyone who supported us. God bless you all”.
In his appreciation of the Ijebu Boys’ efforts, Kuku composed and sang a song for them, delighting all attendees. He prayed for and blessed the association members, encouraging others to emulate the Ijebu Boys.
Oba Alatishe asked the patients seated under the canopy to stretch their hands and bless the association. He urged the association to continue with this philanthropic effort, while Okuwa praised the Ijebu Boys as a shining example of modern philanthropy, giving with compassion and kindness without political motives
Along with other guests, Kuku presented a wheelchair to Madam Tinuola Adebanjo, a 58-year-old paralytic patient from Ijebu Igbo.
All the patients underwent various medical tests, including vital sign checks, urinary analysis, blood tests, and sugar level tests, HIV and tuberculosis before being treated by over 20 certified medical doctors. Various registered beneficiaries with age range between 57 to 90 years came from far and nearby communities such as Ijebu Ife, Sagamu, Ijebu Igbo, Ago Iwoye, Abeokuta, Iken Ogbo, Isiwo, Epe, Ososa and Ijebu Ode, received wheelchairs, walking sticks, digital blood pressure apparatus, drugs, eyeglasses, and food.
The association’s publicist, Omooba Adetola Odusote emphasised the group’s commitment to the development of Ijebu land and the welfare of its people. “Our goal is to put a smile on the face of every patient every year. We are excited to continue our tradition of service to humanity and contribute to the socio-economic development of our homeland”, he said.
Established in 2017, Ijebu Boys Association aims to promote the development of Ijebu land through educational, economic, and social initiatives, as well as thought leadership.
