Text: Mark 6:5, 6 He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and healed them. He was amazed at their lack of faith
Where faith is unavailable, supernatural experience is an illusion. Things will follow a natural course of action unless faith is employed to transit to the realm of the supernatural. Your link from perception or expectation to reality is faith. Faith is the bridge that connects with awesome testimonies. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. (Hebrews 11:1). In the preceding chapter of the text, Jesus had an encounter with a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. The woman had visited physicians and spent all she had but her situation grew worse. When the woman heard that Jesus was in the town, she made up her mind that if she could touch the hem of His garment that she would be healed. The stinking woman was undaunted by the insults from crowd. She endured their pushing, insults and beatings in her bid to wade through the crowd. Eventually, she got to where Jesus was, touched His garment, her faith made her whole and the issue of blood stopped instantly. As Jesus was going to the house of Jarius to heal his sick daughter, news came that she was dead. Jesus considered the unwavering faith of Jairus. He went to the room where the dead girl was laid, He took her by the hand and said to her, Talitha Koum meaning Arise and walk. The moment He said that, the dead girl rose up.
In the passage of our text, Jesus came to Nazareth His place of birth. His people had faith that Jesus was the son Mary. They confirmed that He had male and female siblings. Besides that, His professional calling was not in doubt as they confirmed that He was a carpenter. That was however where their faith stopped. The people didn’t have faith that He was the Son of God and doubted that He was capable of healing their diseases which made it impossible for Jesus to perform any miracle there. Jesus Christ said that all things are possible to him who believes. Faith is the changer of fate. When you have faith, your fate changes. It is not the volume of your prayers that determines answers to your prayers, it is the volume of your faith (Mark 9:23).
It is faith that has the capacity to lead you to Grace.You can’t enter into His grace without faith. When He leads you to His Grace, disgrace is disgraced, you are elevated beyond your level of competence and the testimonies of other people will be forced to bow to your testimonies. Romans 5:2 says that, By whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”. Faith is the purveyor of good economic, physical and spiritual reports. Faith gives a good report (Hebrews 11:39). As the Lord lives, you shall be the next to testify to a good report in the name of Jesus.
Not only that, Faith delivers from sicknesses, bad habits and it sets free from drug addiction etc. Through faith, the captives of the mighty are set free, embargoes are lifted, stones are rolled away and whatever is classified as dead is brought back to life. In faith, wedding bells begin to toll, doors of naming ceremonies are opened and there are occupational breakthroughs (Galatians 3:23-25). Faith removes all the mountains of life (Matthew 17:20). A mountain is whatever challenge that had been around you and not moving, causing you to fear, blocking your sight and elongating challenges endlessly. Paul told the Corinthian that, “So we’re not giving up How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever”. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
When you have faith, nothing can obstruct or hinder you in life. “For by faith ye stand”. (2 Corinthians 1:24b). The challenges of this world shall bow to you because faith will make you to dwell in God’s secret place and you shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. It therefore doesn’t matter what is happening around you space, within your family, at your place of engagement or in Nigeria, please maintain an unwavering faith in God for a better tomorrow, be committed to unyielding faith in His capacity to turn things around and it shall end in celebrations. The God of faith is the God of all flesh and there is nothing too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:27) but what activates His power to turn things around is your unwavering, stubborn and determined faith In Mark 9:23, He said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to Him that believes”.
From this moment dear beloved, please stop seeing impossibilities in your life, stop seeing irreconcilable differences your marriage, stop seeing hopelessness in your health and stop seeing doom concerning the economy and security of Nigeria. Nigeria is going to change for the best. All that are looking down on you today shall begin to look up to you from tomorrow. Power is going to change hands from man to God. To activate faith and make it to work great things in your space, you must have a relationship with Jesus Christ by accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour and you must devote more time to knowing Him through His Word (Joshua 1:8). You must be deliberate to know His mind concerning the issues of life. Don’t give up no matter what. Declare what is written in His word as against what you are seeing. God has promised never to leave or forsake you no matter what. Weeping may endure for a moment but joy comes in the morning.
Prayer: Father Lord, please increase my faith and open the gateway to my full restoration in the name of Jesus Christ
Unorthodox medications such as the popular Agbo (local herbal mixture being served as a drink) have been identified as one of the major causes of the rising incidents of kidney failure in Nigeria.
Currently about 17million Nigerians have various stages of kidney disease. Prevalence of Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) documented in developing and developed countries range from 2.5 percent to as high as 35.8percent in the elderly population.
Speaking recently in a public lecture in Lagos to mark the World Kidney Day, Dr. Ebun Bamgboye, Clinical Director at St. Nicholas Hospital warned that rather than cure or control the ailment that unorthodox medication if anything is more likely to aggravate the ailment.
“Science has proved that Agbo, herbal medications, supplements of different types rather add to a patients problems. There are people that would not take anything except herbal medications but I can tell you from the strength of being a practitioner who sees patients, that very often we have found that individuals who have used these herbal medications are the ones that end up with kidney failure,” he said.
“So if you already have diabetes or hypertension, your kidney is already failing and you cannot use unorthodox medications”. “Herbal supplement, Agbos, ginkgo, bilo, Echinacea etcetera, the reality is that medicine has said that none of them work. Do not use anything that is not prescribed by the doctor.”
Apart from herbal medications, Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension and glomerulonephritis were also fingered as other issues that can trigger kidney ailments. Speaking in the Public lecture with the theme ‘Kidney Health for All: Challenges to its actualisation in Nigeria’ organised by the Kidney Foundation for Africa, Dr. Bamgboye noted that government’s intervention can greatly impact positively to arrest the increasing spread of kidney ailments in Nigeria.
He called on the federal government to Enact Bill to encourage deceased donors. “Government should enact a Bill that will encourage people and the bereaved to donate their organs and those of their dead relatives in order to save lives and enhance the quality of lives of the living.”
He stated that the government needs to do more in order to assist the rising number of people with kidney ailments in the country.
Bamgboye regretted that many died with organs that can be used to save other people. “If those organs are utilised to save the lives of people with kidney failure, you will find that the number of people who eventually get transplants will be much more.
“The Bill is meant at the end of the day, to encourage an improvement in our statistics as regards kidney transplant because it would enable us to start disease donor or cadaveric kidney transplant,” he said.
Commending the Lagos state government he noted “there is a bill to that effect currently with the State House of Assembly. The hope is that they will accelerate its hearing and go ahead and enact the bill and hopefully pass it to the governor for consent.”
Mr. Clinton Peters, the President Kidney Foundation for Africa pointed out that Kidney disease was becoming an epidemic in Nigeria.
He said that the government should intervene by creating awareness, making accessibility to the drugs, dialysis possible. “Majority of the consumables used in treating and managing this ailment are imported. Government should give relief to pharmaceutical organisations involved in importing these expensive materials.”
He also advised people to stop using bleaching cream as it does not only cause cancer but also causes kidney failures. He appealed to organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to make donations towards alleviating the financial burdens of people with kidney challenges.
While corroborating what Bamgboye said, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, noted that there is still so much government needs to do in the health sector. “There should be no duty paid on life saving drugs. Currently, we are trying to push those concessions on healthcare goods so that the cost of treating kidney issues and other ailments will be reduced.”
She called for the enhancement of the health insurance schemes, access to consumables for kidney patients. “I mean access to drugs, Dialysis centers. More research should be done on this. For instance we have more incidence of kidney related issues in the northern part of Nigeria, we should find out why it is so.
“Government involvement must be much more to bring the incidence of kidney ailment low in Nigeria. Why should people pay duty on healthcare products? Whatever duty they pay transcends to the patients. The patients pay the duty when they buy drugs.”
“There are about 17million Nigerians in various stages of kidney failure,” lamented, Cynthia Ajah, MD, Edge Pharmaceuticals limited that specialises in the post treatment of patients that had received kidney transplant.”
Meanwhile the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu said that one of the challenges to actualisation of kidney health for all is lack of awareness. “The awareness aspect is critical as people must be made to come to terms with the fact that they are responsible for their health and wellbeing.”
The First Lady who was represented by Dr. Johnson said “since prevention is better than cure, we need to educate the people to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Much emphasis must also be made on reducing the risk factors which include diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity.”
Commending the organisers of the programme, for their laudable work of creating the awareness of this disease and supporting post-transplant patients with the very expensive drugs, she called on all the stakeholders to support the government in its quest to improve the healthcare system.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) on Friday announced plans to host the 7th edition of its flagship culinary festival in Africa, GTCO Food and Drink with proposed date slated to hold Friday, April 26th to Sunday, April 28th, at GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The GTCO Food and Drink Festival is widely recognised as the continent’s biggest food and drink festival, bringing together millions of food lovers and entrepreneurs to celebrate the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Africa with a vibrant display of flavours, aromas, and cultures. Over the three-day period, attendees can look forward to an array of culinary delights, from traditional African dishes to innovative fusion cuisines from other parts of the world.
Commenting on the 2024 GTCO Food and Drink Festival, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Segun Agbaje, said: “We are delighted to bring to our customers, exhibitors, and food lovers from across Africa and beyond, another edition of an event that is a celebration of not just food, but of the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that make African cuisine so unique.
“Our vision for curating this consumer-focused event is unchanging, particularly in light of the pressures that individuals and businesses are facing at this time. We hope to consistently create memorable moments for everyone, whilst providing a free, vibrant, and commercially viable platform for small food businesses in Nigeria to grow and thrive.”
In addition to its culinary offerings, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere. This year, organisers have curated an extensive lineup of activities for children, ensuring that the festival is an unforgettable experience for the whole family. A specially designed play area will keep the little ones entertained with games, interactive exhibits, and more. As a new and exciting feature, the fair will introduce a children’s baking class, providing young aspiring chefs with a wonderful opportunity to discover the joys of baking, while also fostering creativity and confidence in the kitchen. From decorating cupcakes to crafting their own signature treats, children will unleash their culinary genius and develop valuable cooking skills in a fun and supportive environment.
GTCO is a leading financial services group with banking operations in Nigeria, West Africa, East Africa, and the United Kingdom alongside new businesses in Payment, Funds Management, and Pension Fund Administration. The Group operates a diversified, Proudly African franchise and is renowned for its innovative approach to customer service and stakeholder engagement, which has endeared the brand to millions of people across Africa and beyond. Its leadership in the banking industry and efforts at empowering people and communities has earned it many prestigious awards over the years. In 2023, GTCO’s Guaranty Trust Bank was recognised as Nigeria’s Best Bank and Best Bank in CSR at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence, Best Banking Group in Nigeria by World Finance, and Best Bank in Nigeria by Global Finance. Guaranty Trust Bank also featured in the Top 1000 Banks in the World and Top 100 Banks in Africa rankings by The Banker.
Building upon the success of its launch, Terra Gold Cube has unveiled its new “One Cube, Endless Possibilities” campaign to redefine the way consumers approach seasoning and flavouring their dishes. With a focus on quality, versatility, value for money, and natural flavours, the campaign invites consumers to unlock the limitless potential of Terra Gold Cube, one delicious meal at a time.
Through this campaign, the brand invites all consumers to embark on a voyage of taste, emotion, and discovery— providing a superior taste to their meals without going through the pain of choosing varieties of cubes, thereby unlocking a world of endless possibilities.
Terra Gold has a rich consistent taste that everyone craves for. Be it hearty vegetable stew, delicious soup, or the aromatic richness of Jollof rice, Terra Gold amplifies the natural flavours of your ingredients, accentuating their essence with finesse and precision.
As an experienced homemaker and fervent advocate for the art of flavorful cooking, Jane Benson shares her thoughts on the Terra Gold Cube’s campaign, “One Cube, Endless Possibilities.”
“As someone who spends a considerable amount of time in the kitchen, I have encountered my fair share of challenges when it comes to using seasoning cubes. The pain points have been the lack of versatility, quality, and of course, the value for money”.
“However, everything changed when I discovered Terra Gold Cube. I was finally able to use one cube for all types of meals. I was blown away by the complement in taste it added to my various dishes. Hence, I would recommend that you go for Gold for all your delicious meals. So, choose wisely, choose Gold.” she stated.
Probal Bhattacharya, Chief Marketing Officer, TGI Group, expressed confidence about Terra Gold having the potential to be the gold standard in seasoning cubes, that redefines the art of seasoning, one delicious dish at a time.
“With Terra Gold Cube, we are not just offering a seasoning option; we want to assure consumers that there is now no need to worry about making the right choice of seasoning cubes. Terra Gold is the definitive gold standard in seasoning cubes for providing that special taste across various Nigerian dishes and cuisines. As we look ahead, I am eager to see how Terra Gold becomes an integral part of kitchens around the country, inspiring individuals to experiment, innovate, and savour the endless possibilities that each Gold cube brings,” he said.
We started this discussion last week but due to space constraint promised to publish the concluding part in this edition.
Let us talk now about the art of responding to customer reviews like a professional. It’s not just about receiving those virtual pats on the back; it’s about showing your customers that you genuinely care. Whether a review is positive or negative, responding to customer reviews is a must. It is your chance to showcase your gratitude, address any concerns, and build stronger relationships.
When crafting your responses, follow a few simple guidelines. Be appropriate and professional, but do not be afraid to show your personality. Keep your response genuine and authentic, like a handwritten note from a friend.
But what about those negative reviews? Instead of avoiding them or engaging in a virtual shouting match, respond with empathy. Show your customers that you understand their frustration and genuinely want to make things right. Offer a solution, apologize if necessary, and take the conversation offline if needed.
The impact of responsive customer service is undeniable. When you take the time to acknowledge and address customer reviews, you are not just solving one person’s problem; you are demonstrating to all potential customers that you value their satisfaction. This builds trust, loyalty, and turns customers into enthusiastic brand advocates.
Seize the opportunity to respond to customer reviews with grace and care. It’s not just about managing your online presence; it’s about nurturing lasting relationships that can propel your business to new heights.
Customer reviews are a powerful marketing tool
Customer reviews are the lifeblood of small businesses, playing a pivotal role in their success. We have explored how customer reviews serve as social proof, building trust and credibility in the eyes of potential customers.
These reviews provide valuable insights for business improvement, fueling growth and innovation. By leveraging customer reviews in marketing campaigns, businesses can captivate and convert their audience with the power of authentic testimonials. Responding to customer reviews, both positive and negative, showcases excellent customer service and fosters loyalty. Small business owners must prioritise and actively seek customer reviews, recognising their significance as a powerful marketing tool.
9 Practical Ways to Make Your Customer Service More Proactive
Customer service isn’t just about fixing problems. Here’s how to offer proactive customer service to improve you…
As we look to the future, the role of customer reviews in shaping business success will only continue to evolve. Embracing the power of customer reviews and cultivating a strong online reputation will bring long-term benefits, paving the way for continued growth and customer satisfaction. Let the symphony of customer reviews guide your path, and watch your small business flourish in the ever-changing landscape of success.
How do positive reviews help a business?
Positive reviews are powerful in building credibility. They shape the perception of your business, painting a picture of excellence or mediocrity in the minds of potential customers.
How do you ask customers for reviews in a small business?
You shouldn’t overthink asking for reviews. One of my favorite ways to ask is right after a meeting in the office. This helps me communicate clearly and lets the client know I appreciate their business.
Do you need permission to use customer reviews?
When you receive positive feedback from a client, Always ask before sharing their experience with others. This comes from an agreement of trust between your clients, your team, and yourself.
Addressing Negative Reviews
Even if you forget everything we have been writing since last week about the essence of customer review, do not forget this, but what about those negative reviews? Instead of avoiding them or engaging in a virtual shouting match, respond with empathy. Show your customers that you understand their frustration and genuinely want to make things right. Offer a solution, apologize if necessary, and take the conversation offline if needed.
Coker Augustina Wuraola is the founder and CEO of Cokeson Travels and Tours Limited, one of the most prominent travel agencies in Nigeria. In celebration of the company’s 12 years anniversary, Wuraola spoke with OLAITAN GANIU how she managed to establish her brand with zero capital and turn it into a reputable travel agency among other issues.
Would you describe the development of Cokeson Travels from its modest origins to the prosperous business it is today?
Cokeson Travels started as a small travel agency on March 28, 2012, and through hard work, dedication, and a focus on providing quality services, we were able to expand our reach and grow our team. We are proud to have become a leading travel agency as understand that a good reputation and integrity is the only key to success and progress in this sector. Our growth is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our team and the support of our clients.
Which of the company’s accomplishments over the previous twelve years make you proud?
Some of our proudest achievements include the expansion of our services to international destinations, having over twenty corporate organisations in our portfolio, our reputation for quality service, and our loyal customer base. We are also proud of the relationships we have built with our clients and the successful partnerships we have formed with industry leaders.
Would you mind sharing your survival strategy?
I would not be where I am today without the support and encouragement of my friends and family, who supported my dreams by giving me business. Their unwavering support and encouragement gave me the strength and determination to pursue my passion for travel and entrepreneurship. I am also grateful for our clients, who continue to trust us with their travel needs and feedback. Our clients are central to our success, and their feedback has helped to shape our services into what they are today. We are grateful for their trust and loyalty to our brand, and we strive to exceed their expectations with every travel experience we create for them.
How would you rank your current offerings in the travel and tour industry?
We are constantly striving to improve our services and maintain a high level of expertise in the travel industry. We are currently investing in technology that would enable our customers to book tickets on their own, conveniently. Our clients’ satisfaction is our top priority, and we are proud of our track record of delivering exceptional service. Our uniqueness lies in our ability to provide customized travel solutions that cater to the specific needs and preferences of our clients. We believe in delivering personalized, tailored experiences rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
What is your biggest motivation as a travel agent?
Our biggest motivation is the satisfaction we get from seeing our clients happy and fulfilled after a trip. I love to be of service to people, and putting a smile on the faces of my clients. Knowing that we played a significant role in creating those memories is what drives us to continually improve and do better. Our vision at Cokeson Travels is to become the leading corporate travel management agency in Nigeria, offering innovative travel solutions that exceed our clients’ expectations. Our mission is to provide personalized and exceptional travel experiences that enrich our clients’ lives. We offer a wide range of travel packages, including leisure travel, corporate travel management, medical tourism, honeymoon packages, visa assistance, travel insurance and essentials, group tours, and adventure travel. Each package is carefully curated to meet the unique needs and preferences of our clients.
Tell us about your educational qualifications.
I had my first degree in Industrial and Labour Relations at Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago – Iwoye, Ogun State. I proceeded to the University of Lagos for my Master in Human Resource Management, I also have several IATA certifications and I am currently having an advanced study in Tourism and Hospitality Management in Canada .
How are you coping with the pressures of job and family?
Balancing family and work can be challenging at times, but we prioritize time management and communication to ensure that both aspects of our lives are attended to and not neglected. My family has been a major source of support in assisting me to handle other domestic aspects of my life, thereby enabling me to focus on work.
Looking ahead, what are your future plans?
Our future plans include expanding our service by working with more corporate organisation in Nigeria. We are also working on increasing our focus on sustainable and responsible tourism and leveraging technology to enhance our clients’ travel experiences. We also plan to continue providing our clients with innovative and personalized travel solutions that exceed their expectations. As we look to the future, we plan to continue expanding our services both geographically and by introducing new service lines. We will continue to invest in technology and innovations to stay ahead of industry trends. Overall, we remain committed to providing quality services, building lasting relationships with our clients, and delivering exceptional experiences that exceed their expectations.
• Celebrities responsible for widespread substance consumption by youths — Expert
Increasing abuse of drugs among the Nigerian youth has become a serious cause for concern among well-meaning compatriots. GBENGA ADERANTI examines why the trend has become a menace and the danger it poses to families.
Peter Michael is a regular visitor to a mechanic workshop in one of the communities in a Lagos suburb. Unlike many others who go to the workshop to repair their cars, Peter’s mission to the workshop is different.
His arrival at the workshop is usually greeted with salutations from an army of other youths who also converge at the mechanic workshop every morning. Like Michael, they have no cars to repair but have simply turned the workshop into a point of convergence, where they receive from him their shares of marijuana neatly packed inside small polythene bags.
Complementing the substance in the transparent polythene bag is a small white paper called rizla. With uncommon dexterity, each of the young boys would wrap the substance inside the white paper and set it alight. In the blink of an eye, the air is filled with smoke from the puffing youths, alongside the weed’s heavy peculiar odour.
In another part of the neighbourhood, an army of youths gather. Like the mechanic workshop, they come there every morning to buy from a female vendor of marijuana who is in her 50s. It’s a notorious spot where young boys sit in clusters, sniffing or smoking one form of substance or the other.
Sadly, the foregoing scenarios have become familiar occurrences in many parts of the country, as many of the nation’s youths have turned to the use of hard drugs as pastime.
Michael, for instance, confided in the reporter that he had been smoking marijuana, otherwise known as Indian hemp since 2016, even though he did not set out to be a smoker. He was simply taken in by peer influence. He saw his friends smoking it and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, he has since been hooked on the substance.
“I don’t feel good if I don’t smoke marijuana in one day. In fact, I have to smoke about 20 wraps of skunk daily to feel good,” he said.
Like everything else, Michael said the price of marijuana has increased. He complained that while he derives joy from taking it, he is not happy that the price has jumped from N100 a few weeks ago to N200.
Strangely, he has an aversion for cigarettes or alcohol. “If I need to celebrate anything with you, don’t give me any drink. Just offer me SK (the pseudonym for skunk) and you have made my day,” he said.
He also does not believe that smoking marijuana is illegal. He believes that he would not be committing any crime “as long as the SK found on me is not in commercial quantity.
“I would not argue with the police if I am caught with marijuana. I would just let them know that I am smoking it for health reasons.
“I would tell them to treat me gently. After all, some police officers also smoke it, so they understand better.”
The Nation investigation revealed that marijuana is the most readily available illicit substance. Others like ref (Rohypnol), loud, heroin, cocaine, and tramadol are also being abused, though not necessarily on the same scale.
Ref is popular with many youths because of its instant impact and the fact that its intoxicating effect does not wear off quickly.
Further findings revealed that in most Lagos suburbs, four out of every 10 roadside sellers of assorted drinks are also sellers of illicit drugs. Illegal drug dealers have a special way of identifying would-be customers, making it difficult for security personnel to know whether such activities are going on in such shops.
The activities of such illicit substance dealers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, would have gone unnoticed If not for the efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Recently, a cartel that specialised in selling drugged chin-chin to students in the Opolo area of Yenagoa was busted by the NDLEA.
According to a report, a hair stylist, Josephine Odunu (20), and a dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo (30), were arrested by the NDLEA for selling drugged chin-chin to students and at social parties in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Director of Media and Advocacy (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said the NDLEA officers on patrol around Opolo area of Yenagoa, on March 10, intercepted Edesemi and recovered 200grams of chin-chin produced with cannabis sativa. He was to deliver it to a buyer.
He added that a follow-up operation led to Josephine’s arrest. Josephine distributes the drugged chin-chin from the salon where she works in Kpansia area of Yenagoa.
Babafemi said a search of the salon also led to the recovery of 3.00kilograms, bringing the total weight of the illicit substance seized to 3.2kg.
He added that investigations revealed that they distribute the chin-chin, often laced with cannabis and tramadol, to students and at birthday parties.
While Edesemi handles the delivery, Josephine is a major distributor to a wanted suspect who produces the drugged chin-chin.
Recognising the danger substance abuse has become, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, at a programme, described drug and substance abuse as the mother of all crimes.
He also revealed that some common long-term effects of drug and substance abuse included damage to vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and liver, increased risk of mental health disorders, impaired cognitive function, weakened immune system, and addiction.
Egbetokun, who was represented by the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, disclosed this at a conference that was organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Faculty of Peace Organisation.
Many youths are addicted to illicit drugs
Until recently, Opeoluwa, was seen by many in his Abule Egba, Lagos neighbourhood as an introvert who would not hurt a fly. So it was a rude shock for his father to learn that his easy-going son was suspended from school because he was caught with illicit drugs. His father, who was based abroad, was so sure of his son’s innocence that he threatened legal action against the institution. It took Opeoluwa’s confession for his dad to believe that he was in fact a drug addict.
Opeoluwa could not graduate from the school and all efforts to rehabilitate him have yielded no positive result.
“Once he is hooked, he is ready to sell anything at any price, or do anything to fund his illicit passion,” a family friend said.
The issue of illicit drug use is so endemic that the faith-based institution, which some parents have turned to for moral support, has not been able to free itself from the preference for drug use among the youth.
Narrating her experience in an interview with the reporter, a 22-year-old, who gave her name simply as Christiana, said her time as an undergraduate in one of the faith-based universities in the Southwest states was hell.
According to her, it is not only male students that are into the use of illicit drugs, many female students are also heavily involved.
Christiana said that despite random searches of students’ hostels by the authorities, many students still find a way of bringing drugs into the schools.
She said: “The most terrifying thing about it is that security officials also aid and sell drugs in the school. That was why efforts by the management of the institution did not yield any fruit.
“Every year, during orientation, students are warned against the use of substances, and punishments are spelt out, yet you see them come to school with illicit drugs.”
Illicit drugs everywhere
Almost everywhere in Nigeria, illicit drugs are sold without any form of inhibition. In one of the Ogun communities bordering Lagos State, there is hardly a family without a male child with one drug problem or the other.
Only recently, a parent had to disown his eldest male child because of drug problems. It took the intervention of the community leaders for the young man to be accepted back into the house by his father.
But at the time of writing this report, nothing drastically has changed. The distraught mother of the young man is in constant battle with him as he has sold nearly everything his parents owned.
“He was in one of the higher institutions in Ogun State before he was expelled because of a drug-related problem,” a family friend said.
The drug problem in the Ogun community is being exacerbated by the thriving business of an illicit drug dealer in the community, as people come from far and near to patronise him.
“The landlords in the community are helpless,” a source told The Nation, adding that the drug dealer had been arrested several times but always found his way back into the community.
“We made efforts to send him away, but he has an informant among the executive members of our association. He always has foreknowledge of our plan against him. Someone snitches.
” It was when he was invited for a meeting with the threat to go hard on him that he confessed that he was under the protection of one of the ‘powerful people’ in the community.
“Not only that, he said it would be difficult for him to stop the business, claiming that it was a generational business.
“He told the community that his grandfather started the business before it was passed on to his mother. He said he inherited it from his mother and his son will also continue it.”
Visiting some parts of Lagos would reveal how badly illicit drugs have destroyed the lives of many Nigerian youths. A section of Oshodi is a den of these junkies. They are there 24/7, looking unkempt and walking like zombies.
Yet there are countless slums across Nigeria like the one under the bridge in Oshodi, where the lives of youths revolve around the use of hard drugs.
Once they have taken the substance, they feel no pain, no matter how hard you hit them until the effects of the drugs wane. They are far gone into another planet, acting like zombies.
A commercial driver who plies the route between Oshodi and Berger, however, insisted in a chat with The Nation that the drug addicts under Oshodi Bridge pose no threats because rather than going out to commit crime, they are content with sitting under the bridge and taking the drugs. “Politicians use them during election periods. That is why it is difficult to evict them,” he added.
However, one question that agitates the minds of right-thinking observers is the kind of children these addicts are expected to raise.
It was gathered that many of them do not know the implications of their actions. In a video that went viral sometime last year, a group of girls were arrested for selling drugs during a birthday party. But when the main culprit was being interrogated, all she did was smile as if she had done nothing wrong.
A stranger to the substance would mistake it for a beverage, as it was packaged in the sachet of a popular beverage brand.
In yet another viral video, a young man inebriated with skunk was seen being hit repeatedly by his colleagues without him seemingly feeling anything.
A journalist who narrated his ugly experience with the drug ring to our correspondent, recalled how he went to a party and was given candy and cake which, unknown to him, was laced with drugs. It was when he started feeling dizzy that it occurred to him that a strange substance had entered his body. He said he slept for three days without being able to do anything productive.
The most tragic aspect is that most of the people that get hooked to hard substances, most times are not aware of what they are getting into; it is not until it becomes a problem that they realise that they are in a catch-22 situation.
Ace Nigerian singer, Joshua Iniyezo, aka Solidstar, narrating how he got hooked, said he was introduced to ‘Ice’ in 2021 by a group of young boys.
Ice, known formally as crystal methamphetamine, quickens the flow of information between the brain and body.
He said the drug had a very negative impact on him.
According to him, after taking the hard drug, a voice would urge him, “not to pay for things,” and he would begin to feel like a king.
“Sometimes this substance will tell me you are king, you are this, you are that, make I no dey pay for stuff. Can you imagine saying ‘I waka from Awoyaya to Oriental Hotel.’”
Abuse of drugs, substances, fuel crimes
According to a report, the abuse of drugs and other substances and associated crimes have driven a considerable rise in the number of youths imprisoned in recent years.
A report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in Nigeria indicates that 14.4% (14.3 million) of people aged between 15 and 64 years abuse drugs
Many Nigerian youths are addicted to drugs. As of 2021, according to a report by the NDLEA, 40 percent of Nigerian youths aged between 18 and 35 years are deeply involved in drug abuse.
Atinuke Aduloju, the chief superintendent of narcotics, NDLEA, disclosed this during the 7th Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting held at Ojo Constituency 1, Lagos.
A medical practitioner at that event, Nseabasi Ekanem, blamed poor parenting for the increasing wave of drug abuse in the country.
Why youths are attracted to drugs
Explaining why many youths are attracted to hard drugs, a clinical psychologist at the Department of Psychiatry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Juliet Ottoh, attested to the findings of The Nation, saying the availability of substances in all areas and all corners makes it easy for youths to get them whenever they need them.
Until recently, you could only get substances in an enclosed or private place that was not open to the general public and only known to those who use them. According to her, peer influence and curiosity are some of the major reasons why youths have taken to illicit drugs.
She also disclosed that what these youths see on social media also influences the way they act.
She explained that youths see their role models use drugs openly. Therefore, they too do not feel any qualms doing the same.
She said: “The youths see celebrities use substances. They see them and feel if these people are using substances and are doing well, perhaps, if they use the substances, they too may do well.”
Ottoh said the government has to be worried because if the foundation is faulty, the country stands the risk of having what she described as a “very terrible society.”
She described as a menace the abuse of substances, adding that “if it is not addressed, it is going to degenerate into a menace such that the government would not be able to have a hold on people”.
She said there is a need for the government to be worried about the availability of these substances.
“How do they get into the country? They should be worried and begin to address all of these loopholes because if it is not addressed, it is going to escalate and we are going to have a very bad society, a very bad generation,” she said.
The psychologist is alarmed that the cases of mental ill health are on the rise.
“Three major reasons that predispose one to have mental health conditions: DNA, which is running in the family. The other one is lifestyle, and lifestyle has to do with substance use.
“The rate at which people are coming down with mental illness is already becoming alarming.
“Because of their vulnerability, when they start using these substances, they come down with mental health conditions.
“There is already a rise. It is going to be worse if it is not controlled,” she warned.
Addressing use of illicit drugs
Though the government has set up agencies like the NDLEA to fight drug peddling and abuse, the clinical psychologist advised the government to intensify campaigns against the use of substances because “the truth about substance is ‘don’t just start it.’”
She recommended that awareness against substance abuse should start from primary school, “so that they don’t become the victims in the long run. Awareness programmes against substance abuse should be a key thing.”
Need for NDLEA to change focus
Many would think that with an agency like the NDLEA, which has been at the forefront in the fight against drug offenders and the campaign against substance abuse, there would be fewer youths abusing substances; but Ottoh said it would be difficult to blame the agency because “work cannot be quantified, but can only be evaluated by what is evident.”
“The NDLEA, we understand that they are working, but have they been able to get to the grassroots, to some of those local environments and primary schools?” She queried.
She opined that the NDLEA has not been very successful because its focus might be wrong. “Their focus may be on people in tertiary institutions while some pupils in primary schools have started using the stuff. So there needs to be an awareness programme right from primary schools.”
In winning the war against substance abuse, she advised the NDLEA to re-strategise and start their awareness campaign from primary school.
So how did we get to a situation where drugs are being sold openly?
Ottoh explained that it is because of the influence of role models. Famous people are using substances; why can’t they use them too? They don’t know what those people do behind the camera when they see a mental health professional like us. But they just think this person is using it and they are doing well, so why shouldn’t I?
“It is being measured by what they see, forgetting that there could be other things behind the scenes.”
Greed fuels availability of drugs
Ottoh believes that greed among some Nigerians is one of the factors responsible for the prevalent use of hard drugs and substances everywhere. “People just want to make money. They don’t care about the danger or what could happen; they only care about the profit they will make from it.
“It may not affect you directly, but what about your relatives, your cousins, your nephews, your nieces?”
She also warned that if nothing is done urgently about the drug problem among the youth, it could be tragic. “The treatment for mental illness is expensive. There is going to be a dysfunctional family because it is going to affect family finances, it is going to affect the relationships in the family.
“Whosoever abuses drugs will become a nuisance to society. Somebody who has become economically productive to society becomes a nuisance and unable to contribute to society. It is going to affect the economy.
“A lot of them won’t be able to go to school as it will affect their memory.”
Jackson Lekan Ojo, a certified gold member of the International Security Association, Switzerland, and a Fellow of the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), explaining the trend, blamed the preponderance of drug use on the government. According to him, when citizens of a country lose confidence in a country, they resort to self-help.
He said: “When youths graduate from the polytechnic, the university, or even secondary school and there is nothing for them to do, what happens?
“They say an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. When these people are not engaged in anything meaningful, they move up and down; and because there is no means of livelihood, wherever they walk to and meet some persons who give them one cup of cooked rice, and at the end of the day they offer them drugs, they will take, since they know that if they come the second day, they are sure that somebody will give them something to eat again; so the habit continues.
“By the time they continue in it, it becomes part and parcel of them.”
He said the consequences include engaging in psychoactive activities. “Because they are not the ones controlling themselves, the spirit of psycho activities that is controlling them makes them go into crime and criminality.”
He warned that if the issue of illicit drug consumption is not urgently addressed, “the implication is that we are grooming armed robbers, fraudsters, killers, terrorists, militants, and bandits.
“That is the implication of this because, by the time they take drugs, they are not part of us anymore. They don’t reason the way we reason. They don’t listen to anybody again; they listen to the voices of drugs in their system. So, they take to any form of crime and criminality. That is the implication.”
He blamed the surge in drug abuse on corruption. “What is meant for the whole state, two or three persons embezzle it. They run the state around to enrich themselves. They would not create jobs, direct or indirect labour, and they get people frustrated.”
Way out
Ojo advised the government to curb corruption completely, as this would help in many ways in creating jobs for the youth.
He also advised the government to pay security agencies — civil defence, police, and institutions like the NDLEA — to fight those dealing in illicit drugs.
“The NDLEA under Buba Marwa is very effective. They deserve to be called NDLEA. They have assisted the system seriously. The way we have it now is the way we had the old NDLEA.
“Nigeria would have been on fire and there would have been many mad men and women on the streets.
“Applause for the NDLEA. But the government can still encourage them to do more.”
For almost two decades, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi has bestrode Nigeria‘s marketing and advertising terrain like a colossus, leading Verdant Zeal on a progressive trajectory, morphing from a multi-disciplinary organisation into a multi-contextual group with specialised brand marketing competence in Strategy, Content Conceptualisation and Development, Digital & Interactive Media, Public Relations & Custom Publishing, Activation & Experiential Marketing, Specialist Communication, Entertainment, and Intellectual Interventions.
A prolific and eloquent speaker, and a professional par excellence, Olugbodi has graced several stages, speaking on customer service, marketing, leadership, strategic networking, public relations, risk and crisis management amongst others.
Personable, confident and enthusiastic, Olugbodi has handled and co-ordinated several high profile campaigns and effectively managed account teams, supervised setting up and running of specialist operations across the whole spectrum of marketing and communications.
Dr. Tunji Olugbodi is the Executive Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Verdant Zeal Group; a multi-disciplinary marketing and communications outfit with two international branches in key locations across the West Coast of Africa.
He is also the convener of The Innovention Series, an annual Thought Leadership Convo that hosts creative and conceptual thinkers to a roundtable discussion on how to apply the concept of innovation to development. The platform has featured many distinguished intellectuals, political leaders and captains of Industry. The current President of Ghana, Nana Akuffo Addo, was once a distinguished speaker at the forum.
He was recently conferred with the Advertising Personality of the Decade Award by the prestigious Marketing Edge Magazine.
A veteran in the industry, his illustrious career spanning over three decades in journalism, advertising and enterprise development has seen him pass through the walls of The Guardian Newspapers, SAAL Advertising, Promoserve-Grey and Prima Garnet Africa before setting up Verdant Zeal in 2007.
As a result of his multifarious knowledge and ability to interact at all levels, Olugbodi also chairs the board of several other organisations including BT Bytol Group (a cluster of business interests in Travel, Tourism, Confectionery and HR Advisory), Background Check International (B.C.I), Team Building International and Epicentre Events.
His continuous zeal for personal development, evident right from his undergraduate days at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University, O.O.U) where he finished top of his class with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language, has seen him participate in several local and international training courses, conferences and workshops.
He has also represented Nigeria at the World Economic Forum and presented papers at numerous international events like Cambridge Africa Business Network (CABN), at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Dr. Olugbodi was pioneer chairman of Nigeria’s foremost advertising awards, Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF), was recently awarded the LAIF Life Time Achievement Award. He is a fellow of both the Nigerian Institute of Marketing (NIMN) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), London and Institute of Directors (IoD Nigeria). He has received numerous awards and recognition for his works. These include the Living Legends Industry Award (by Red Media Africa) and the Brand Icon Award (by Brand Age Magazine). He was also conferred with a doctorate in Business Economics from Universitẽ Bilingue Libre du Togo (Liberal Bilingual University of Togo).
Despite Tunji’s extremely engaging secular obligations, he has also been quite active in attending to matters of the Kingdom, serving the Lord in varying capacities. Between 2006 and 2015, he was the Chairman, Board of Governors, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos.
He was also the Chairman, Advisory Board, Spiritual Diet daily devotional; Coordinator, Family Life Ministry, Triumphant Baptist Church, Lagos and a Deacon and church council member at Triumphant Baptist Church, Lagos.
He currently serves as the chairman of the board of BP Productions in Ibadan.
He places family very highly in the hierarchy of things. Married to Olabiyi Atinuke, his lovely wife of almost three decades, Dr Olugbodi is a family man to the core and he believes that the fastest and surest way to build a strong nation is to foster strong family constituents.
He is constantly engaged in progressive initiatives and causes. His passion is in travelling, photography and meeting people.
While she concedes the right to polygamy to Muslim men, as permitted by the Holy Qur’an, Hajia OJ Awa-Ibraheem, business woman, entrepreneur of note and devout Muslim, is of the opinion that men need to begin to consider the implications of their action on their women, as this usually have tremendous mental impact on them. She tells GBOYEGA ALAKA how the urge to help such women led her to founding Hasbunnallah Islamic Foundation.
Your organisation, Hasbunallah Islamic Foundation seems positioned to help Muslim women in troubled marriages; could you tell us more about it?
As the name suggests, the Hasbunallah foundation is an Islamic foundation; the idea behind the name is from the Holy Qur’an, meaning ‘God is more than enough’. No matter how bad a situation may be, if you have faith and hold onto Allah, He would ease your burden. That was how I came up with the name. Besides, anytime you’re saying it, you’re also saying a prayer. Because it is an Islamic foundation, it is primarily targeted at Muslim women. The purpose is to help women in polygamy or those who have suddenly found themselves in polygamy. However, I don’t want to limit it to polygamy, because there are women in monogamous marriages, who are worse off than those in polygamy. You have a situation where the man who has gotten somebody else, left the house for a week, and is not doing what the Qur’an says he should do in terms of maintaining that balance, and the woman is there, languishing. Maybe she’s not working or perhaps she’s a petty trader, has five children, who have not eaten, because he had problems with her and did not drop any money. The foundation would be there to help.
There are also women who are going through the trauma of their husband’s suddenly taking another woman as wife. I discovered that the mental health issues they deal with are enormous; and they are not able to go out and talk about these things. By the way, there are also women who are rich but who are dealing with mental health issues as a result of the trauma arising from this situation. But they suffer in silence. With a foundation like ours, they will have an avenue to unburden; because some just need to ventilate and rant from the point of pain; because in the end, she may still come to the conclusion that ‘I kuku love him, I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. And if it’s somebody who needs to see a psychiatrist, we provide that. And if at the end of the day, she is not able go on with the marriage, then we advise that the transition be made easy for her, and not keep holding on to her. Because if you insist on holding onto her, what then was the need for the second person or third or even fourth woman?
And for the poor ones?
For the poor ones, the questions would be like, what do you do for a living? What would you like to do for a living? This is something I am just starting up, but I’m hoping to get people who would join up and help out in terms of helping with agencies where they can offer low-skill work or donations through which the women can be set up to be independent. And if she wants to stay in her husband’s house but be empowered, then we support her – because we really don’t want broken homes, if it can be helped. Experience has shown that women who leave their husbands because he took another wife, still go on to be second or third wife wherever they go to. Unfortunately, it is a vicious cycle.
Would your organisation also be willing to mediate? Because like you said, you don’t want broken homes.
That is where we would be inviting people, who either by personal experience or as trained therapists or psychiatrists, to talk to them on the possible outcomes of their separating from their husband. We would be sponsoring programmes, where people can talk to these women. I will be taking a middle ground here, because in fairness, as a Muslim, a man is allowed to have two, three or four wives. So it’s not something that is going to go away anytime soon. However, even though it is permissible, it is not an obligation. As a Muslim, I cannot contradict what is written in the Qur’an, but the Qur’an also states that you should not hurt your fellow human being. Men should understand that it comes with a lot of trauma for the woman.
How bad does a woman feels in such a situation?
I see three different situations. If you are in a relationship where there is a lot of commitments and you both started off with nothing, and you build yourself up; irrespective of whether the woman is working or not, the simple fact that the woman is there offering her support makes it very traumatic. If there is a lot of bonding between the couple, it is always very traumatic; but where the woman is unconcerned or not so emotionally attached, then she may eventually just come to terms with it and move on. But from what I’ve seen, there is hardly any woman that will be comfortable with the idea of her husband taking another woman; even if she’s the second, third or any number. I am the second and I kicked against it.
Many are going to see this as kicking against Islamic tenets; how do you respond to this?
I know I’m going to come under a lot of fire, but I see myself as someone who can relate in between. I understand the feeling of the first person, and I understand the feeling of the one coming in. I’ve done a lot of extensive research, and I discover that there are quite a lot of imams, who says ‘don’t rock the boat.’ Of course there are instances where it is recommended that a man takes another woman, such as if she’s not able to have children. As a woman, you have to be fair to your man; if you have a terminal disease, you’re not going to be able to take care of the man and his emotional needs; you need to allow him, while he’s still there to support you. Also, there are women who are not sexually excited, and you know that your husband is not going to be able to put up with that; you talk it out with him, and maybe allow him. I know somebody who willingly allows her husband, because she said in six months, they may have sex only once. The man may not be that randy, but he wants it when he wants it. So if these reasons are not there, and it’s matter that can be resolved without necessarily bringing in another woman, then you’re better off – because the trauma on the children too is not small. I have never seen where people who are from the same father are as committed to one another as those from the same mother.
Basically, what would you say is the inspiration behind this whole project?
It is basically to help and empower women. This is something I’ve been doing in the background, just that I’ve decided this time to come out and do it as a foundation. Even now, it’s still difficult for me to publicise things that I do; I had to ask a lot of my imams, who said there is nothing wrong in wanting to go this far. They also said my effort may inspire other people. I would like to focus more on the mental and emotional or psychological problems that comes with polygamy or when your husband is philandering. Men need to understand that women are different; we are more emotional and are not able to process things like men would. A lot of women are possessive in nature, just that the degree of the possessiveness and jealousy differs. A woman that is not jealous is simply not with the man she loves. Don’t bring in a woman to torment a woman who is frail psychologically, such that ends up BP issues or even dies.
The foundation is also into charity, feeding people and all of that; tell us about it.
That’s where I started from. Hasbunnallau Foundation took roots from the grassroots. Our main targets are the low income people; these are the people who are mostly helpless, because, for them, there is nowhere to go; nobody to turn to. Those are the people, who by the time they’re 60, look like an 80-year-old woman. She’s worn out mentally and emotionally.
Some would say this foundation is encouraging divorce.
No, it’s not. Like I said earlier on, some women just need a place where they can vent. They need emotional stability, until they are able to accept that way of life. Imagine a woman you married a virgin, who developed a health issue as a result of the STD and is not able to have more than one or two children; and you now want more children and go on to take another woman. Would such a woman be forgiving? Where does the compromise come in? These are moral issues that we should look at; not just the verse that says you are allowed to marry more than one. I’ve heard a case of a man who married a woman with high body count, got HIV from her and gave the virus to his innocent first wife. True she may not leave the man, but she’s going to be resentful towards him.
How are you funding this whole thing?
Most of the money is coming from my personal fund for now. Initially, I was a bit shortsighted, but I have this younger sister, who told me, ‘Aunty, you have a good vision, but you’re short-sighted,’ because I was always against videoing it when we give the food packages to people. But she told me, ‘no, things don’t work that way. You’re not going to be able to fund this forever. There are a lot of aspects to this. If you want to help these women, how many jobs can you offer them? You need to look for people who can offer them jobs; so you need to let people see what you’re doing. I have another foundation called Paulin Dinya, which provide temporary mobile housing for distressed women.
You have not quite answered my question on feeding people. How many of such outreaches have you carried out?
Oh yes, we’ve done outreaches. We’ve done 850 packs of dry food during this Ramadan. We gave rice, beans, garri; some were two kg, some were one and half kg, some 1kg. I told them to disburse them randomly; but because it was done by my imam, naturally, he did at his mosque in Agege; Morkaz, Iyana Ipaja, Dopemu. I also told them, put extra and give to anyone they come across whom they perceive needs it. My husband also gave me an envelope with money, so we inserted some little cash. Now I’m resolved to do a bigger one.
Will you be welcoming support, maybe from international donors or even locally?
Oh yes, we will be welcoming voluntary support. We’re eventually going to be along the medical line, because we’re talking about trauma; I already have one or two friends, who have said once you start, let us know, we’ll be willing. But most of the responsibility will be coming from me. I did my birthday last year, and I decided to do a medical outreach at Anwar-ul-Islam School, Agege; and would you believe the number of women that had High Blood Pressure? It was there that this idea started forming in my mind. If it is difficult for me to cope with, what will the other woman with less means do?
Tell us about yourself
My name is O J Awa-Ibrahim. I am an entrepreneur; I have three businesses: GlamourLounge Spa; I have a chain of perfume shops called Perfect Scent Designer Perfumes; I’m opening another one in Lekki and another in GRA. And I have a construction business, PaulinDinya Development. The construction business is the one that’ll be handling the PaulinDinya Trust Foundation for displaced women and children. The PaulinDinya thing is a family thing that I hope to run with my siblings.
A cleric Prophet Sam Olu-Alo has urged well- meaning Nigerians to assist less privileged and downtrodden in society to cushion effect of current economic hardship.
Alo, who is the planter of Christ Apostolic Church, Adamimogo Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide, said helping the poor at this present time will not only ensure that they have something to eat but also reduce criminal acts to the barest minimum in society.
Speaking after presenting 200 bags of rice to people of Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Alo, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Ayodeji Ogunbusuyi, said the gesture was borne out of his love for humanity considering the economic challenges facing the people.
Communities that benefited include: Ido Ekiti, Ifaki-Ekiti, Ayetoro-Ekiti, Osi -Ekiti, Usi -Ekiti, Ilogbo-Ekiti, Aye-Ekiti, Orin-Ekiti, Igbole-Ekiti, Ifisin -Ekiti Oke Ora-Ekiti, Odo-Ora-Ekiti, Ilogun-Ekiti, Temidire-Ekiti, Alo Family in Ido-Ekiti, Ado Church, Akure Church, Ogombo Church, Ikotun Church, Widows Abeokuta Church, kings and mosques.
He said “Prophet Olu Alo has deemed it fit to assist the less privileged and the downtrodden in the society, especially at the grassroots. He instructed us to get some bags of rice and distribute it to the people in all towns and communities in the Ido-Osi local government area of Ekiti state.
“Distribution of the food item which started on yesterday will be for the less privileged in the local government, to the traditional rulers, Muslims to assist them during the ongoing Ramadan fast period. Widows and the aged in the communities have also been listed as beneficiaries.
“At this time when the economic situation is biting hard on the people and the people are finding it difficult to feed, I am imploring the well-to-do Nigerians whom God has blessed to come to the aid of their people.
“We have many people in the society that could not feed themselves and their families, it is this period that one can give out of what God has given to you to assist them. In doing that, the society will be better and the rate of crime will be minimised.”
While commending the cleric for the gesture, the Olojudo of Ido Faboro-Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, lauded Alo for his intervention.
Oba Ilori-Faboro, who is the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, said: “I am very grateful because he remembers home, of course, he remembers home all the time because this is not the first time, he always sends things home.
“Everybody, all the chiefs in town, the widows, the less privileged. He pays indigent students school fees, and during festive periods he gives out clothes, food items, and empowerment for the artisans with working equipment. For the youths, he encourages them and has been so supportive to the town This is a trademark.”
While describing the man of God as a beacon of light in the community, he said the gesture was worthy of emulation.
According to him: “Every well-meaning Nigerians should remember the the less privileged at this moment. We don’t ask him for anything but he does all of these out of his free will.
“So Prophet Olu Alo is God sent to this generation and I can only pray that God will continue to increase his fortunes, lift up his ministry, empower him to do more, and bless him with long life and prosperity.”
