Mariam Akinloye & Joy Oluwafunmilola
-Plans mega medical mission in November, construction of health centre
The Eko Club International, a group of Lagosians in the United States of America (USA), London and Canada, which has been engaging in humanitarian activities in many fronts, has provided food support for 300 residents of Amuwo – Odofin and Apa Kingdom.
The distribution of the food palliatives was held at Festac and Alapa palace in Apa Kingdom in the Badagry Division of Lagos State, on Sunday.
The club, which also distributed food items to about 250 residents in Epe at the weekend, also intends to extend the gesture to Ikorodu, Shasha, Isolo and other parts of the state.
Some of the food items contained in the bags distributed by the Eko Club International which has 26 chapters across the three countries, were rice, semovita, garri, spaghetti, salt among other items.
Speaking with the THE IMPACT during the distribution exercise, Dr Tayo Ogunyemi, Assistant General Secretary and Chairman, Food Palliative Project, Eko Club International, hinted that the organization will stage its mega health mission across the five divisions (IBILE) of Lagos State, and also construct health centre in Apa Kingdom.
“We are here to contribute as usual to the community of Apa town In Badagry, because one of our big projects is giving back, especially to the rural community.
“Apart from the food palliative, we are also doing a Medical Mission. We were here in January to give back to the community of Apa in support of the Kabiyesi, But now, because of the situation in the country, which made to be in critical need of food, this made members of the Eko International which comprises about 600 members, contributed money to get food items and distribute them across Lagos.
“Aside Apa community, we have been to Epe and Festac Town. We will also be going to Ikorodu and other communities like Itire, Shasha and Isolo among others.
“Apart from food palliatives, we are also doing the Health Mission in Isolo, similar to what we did here at Apa and other places. All these are possible because of our members who contributed money to make this possible, due to their love for the communities. I want to use this great opportunity to thank all the members for contributing their monies willingly to support the people in Lagos”, he said.
While commending the leadership of the Eko Club International under President Saheed Olushi, Mr Ogunyemi also hinted that the club will be coming back in November for a mega medical mission across the five divisions of Lagos State.
Speaking about the future plans of the club, Dr Ogunyemi said that the popular Eko Club International Health Mission will come up in November and also revealed plans to build a health centre in Apa Kingdom.
“In November, we will also be coming back for our medical mission that we usually do every two years, and that medical mission will be done across the five divisions (IBILE) of Lagos State.
“It is one of our biggest projects that we do and it normally costs us about 80 thousand dollars to provide all the services to various communities in terms of provision of medications, bringing doctors and nurses from London ,Canada and the United States, to serve the communities in Lagos.
“One of the plans by Eko Club International for the Apa community is to build a health centre. We already have land for the project and I just received the survey from Kabiyesi. Our next plans are to build the facility and equip it for the community “, he said.
HRM Oba Alayeluwa (Dr) Oyekan Adekanmi Ilufemiloye Ajose, Jp.,(FCSI) Posi III, Alapa of Apa Kingdom, who was elated by the presence of the club in his domain, also thanked them for the support being rendered to him and his community.
“In fact, I am so grateful and more than happy for all that the Eko Club International has been doing for me and when I went to America for their convention. They have been trying a lot for me and my kingdom.
“When I was marking my 15th year anniversary, they came in big form. They came with about 80 to 100 doctors to serve my community. They served not only my community, but also others around me, including Badagry.
“They have requested for lands to build a health centre and I secured three plots of the community land for them, and they have been given the land’s survey plan. They have been spending a lot of money for my community.
“Today again, they were here to serve my people with food items as palliatives.
“I thank them for the assistance that they have been rendering to me personally and my Kingdom. They have been assisting my Kingdom to grow”, the royal father said.
Some of the residents in the two communities that spoke with THE IMPACT commended the Eko Club International for the gesture.
Chief Yahya Oladiran, the Gbobaniyi of Apa, who said that he was not surprised by the club’s gesture, described Eko Club International as a reputable organization.
“What Eko Club International is doing is not new to me, because they have been assisting us in Apa. Since Kabiyesi has ascended the throne, he has been bringing lots of reforms and transformation to the town.
“Eko Club International is a reputable organization that has been helping our community and today, they are distributing food palliatives to our people in Apa Kingdom, and I am happy to be here”, he said.
Another resident of Apa, Madam Anyageli Mazin, said:
“We are appreciative of this gesture and we pray that God will continue to assist and increase the Eko Club International’s capacity”.
Mrs Lateef Aminat, also a resident of Apa town, in his own remarks, said that:
“I am extremely grateful for the food items presented to us. The organisation will continue to grow from strength to strength “.
In his own comment, Mr Godwin Michael, another resident, appreciating the gesture, said that:
“In our country today, food is very scarce and to receive food items that wll last you for some days is a good thing. This gesture by the Eko ClubI International is good and a way to assist the government in making food available to the people”.
Mr Olayinka Shamsideen, a resident of Amuwo Odofin, expressed his happiness and charged the club to sustain the gesture.
“I am happy and excited, and I give the club kudos. I wish that they continue with it, because the masses are really suffering and this will go a long way in supporting our families”.
At the distribution exercise were Mr Olatunji Anthony, the Treasurer of the club and Mrs Kolade Biyi, a chieftain
