By Niyi Adewunmi
The Chairman, Ifako- Ijaiye Local Government, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke has said he would continue to partner civil society and other humanitarian organisations in ensuring that his residents are not adequately catered for, but in spreading the awareness of how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.
He stated this while playing host to an amalgamation of nine CSO/NGOs under the umbrella of COVID-19 Lagos State CSO Emergency Intervention Group, which paid him a courtesy visit in his office yesterday.
The State Coordinator and leader of the team, Mrs Baliquees Aiyepola, told the chairman about their state-wide interventions which includes distribution of emergency food package, sensitisation and advocacy on how to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19 scourge among residents in no fewer than 17 local government areas they have touched.
According to her, the group not only shared food and other palliative materials to residents of these local governments, but enlighten the people on the safety protocols as laid out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) such as regular washing of hands under running water, sanitizing of hands with alcohol base sanitisers, and social distancing or staying at home and away from crowd to prevent community spread of the deadly virus.
She said the chief of staff to the chairman Hon, Ibiyinka Thomas, helped greatly in identifying the needy, especially the vulnerable households and elders that needed to be touched by the materials, adding that communities such as, Adeyeri, Karaole Estate, Awadun Area CDA, Unity Close, Ike Oluwa , Raimi Ogundipe, Kayode str, and Iju among other areas where touched by the group.
Oke, in his response appreciated the team for their selfless service to humanity, adding that such gesture would “go a long way to curtail the spread of COVID-19 virus and bring about the reduction in economic hardship to residents caused by the lockdown.”
He reiterated, his continuous support to such noble initiative, because there is no amount of effort that is too much in curbing the spread of the virus while urging other good spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations to emulate the footsteps of the coalition.
He appealed to them to keep up the good work by creating awareness that the virus is real and that it has killed thousands of innocent people across the globe.
While decorating the council chairman as its Ambassador in the local council area, the team informed him that, they could also help to distribute palliatives strategically and effectively with their requisite field experience.
The Supervisor for Agricultural services, Hon. Femi Abiola Afikuyomi saluted the group for their good gesture.
Other members of the team are: Mrs R.J Adeniyi, Dr. Mrs Halima Egberongbe, Rev . Mrs Akomolafe, Mrs Lola George Akoke,Mrs Okajumoke Otitoloju, Mrs Adenike Opebi, Comrade Rotimi Ogunmuyiwa , Mr Oni Olayinka and Rev. Mrs R.O Akomolafe.