Kosofe LGA in Lagos State pledges support for NGO
Kosofe Local Government Area in Lagos State has pledged to support a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen for its impactful humanitarian services in the community.
Mr Ganiyu Oyebanjo, Senior Special Assistant on Religious Matters to the LGA Chairman, Mr Mikhail Shofola, gave the pledge on Monday in Lagos when he spoke with newsmen.
Oyebanjo gave the pledge on behalf of Shofola.
The NGO concluded a three-day mentorship programme on humanitarian projects on April 4 at Ojota, Lagos, in collaboration with Unique Youth Foundation, another NGO.
Oyebanjo said he would appeal to Mr Ganiyu Okanlanwo, (Kosofe, Constituency 1) Lagos State House of Assembly, for more support for the development of humanitarian projects in the community.
“I am impressed at the good works organised by the NGO, especially in impacting and teaching good values to youths.
“This will go a long way at discouraging cultism and other vices in the community,’’ he said.
He noted that the NGO had been consistent in its programmes over the years and had been genuine in its intent at moulding good characters in youths in the community.
“These are different from several other humanitarian projects that do not stand the test of time but designed just to collect money from the council and move on.
“I have attended three of their programmes which had significant impact in the community; therefore, I can say that their organisation is genuine enough.
“I appeal to leaders in the LGA to support the NGO to execute more of these humanitarian projects to be organised,’’ Oyebanjo said.
Coordinator of the NGO, Mr Taiwo Lasisi, said the April mentorship programme was the third edition and had more than 100 students across religious divides and tribes in attendance.
“The organisation is a socio-religious group which aims to educate the populace and develop the community.
“As an organisation, we have many departments. This programme falls under our Education Department which aims at educating the populace,’’ he said.
Lasisi said that the organisation gave out 20 West African Examination Council (WAEC) forms to students from less-privileged homes in each of the last three years to encourage and assist in their education.
He appealed to leaders in the LGA and well-meaning Nigerians to support the organisation financially so that more forms could be bought and given to more students needing the support.
“We also carry out free medical check-ups, therefore part of the financial support will go to procuring medical equipment and a vehicle for easy transportation of the infirm,’’ he said.
Mrs Folake Adelusi, Founder, Unique Youth Initiative, said she collaborated with the NGO to organise the programme because of the potential to imbibe good characters in youths.
“We need programmes like this to ensure that our youths move from negative values abundant in the society to positive values to make our society a better place,’’ Adelusi said.
Mrs Bashira Momoh-Sadiq, a health worker who was part of the medical outreach said that the turnout for the free medical care was low compared to what she expected since it was done for free.
“I expected more people to turn out and benefit from the healthcare service, but the low turnout may be a result of poor awareness.
“I advise the organisers in their next programme to focus more on awareness for the medical check-up so that everyone can benefit and know their health status,’’ she said.
The healthcare worker said that people were checked for blood pressure and blood sugar.
“I discovered that out of 50 people that were checked, 50 per cent were hypertensive and out of that 50 per cent, 20 per cent were diabetic.
“So I advised them to visit hospitals for more check-ups and collected their phone numbers for follow-up,’’ Momoh-Sodiq said.
Also speaking, Mr Segun Babatunde, the Community Development Council Chairman, told newsmen that the programme was a welcome development because it would make the community a better place.
“The programme will build positive virtues in our youths and also educate our elderly ones on the need for regular health check-ups to ascertain their medical status.
“I appreciate the organisers for putting together such a programme because it will reduce cultism and other vices in the community and go a long way to build a more healthy society,’’ he said.
