Amosun’s wife feeds 5,000 aged people in three years

The wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Olufunso Amosun, has uplifted and cared for over 5,000 needy aged people from the state’s 20 local government areas in the last three years with the aim of reducing poverty and hunger among the frail, elderly and vulnerable citizens of the state.
UPLIFTing the Aged programme by the governor’s wife was flagged off on January 25, 2012 at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta to commemorate the 54th birthday anniversary of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, with more than 1,000 elderly people in attendance.
The aged people were given health tips, free medical screening, bags of essential commodities and cash gifts.
Like the previous year, on January 25, 2013, another round of 2,000 senior citizens benefitted from the UPLIFTing the Aged programme at the same venue, they received free medical checks, food items and small cash gifts.
The third edition of the UPLIFTing the Aged programme took place over the weekend at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta with over 2,000 elderly people in attendance to felicitate with the governor on his 56th birthday anniversary.
This brings the total number of the senior citizens who have benefitted from Amosun’s UPLIFTing the Aged programme so far to over 5,000 drawn from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State.
Speaking at the weekend’s occasion, the wife of the governor said she has compassion and love for the cause of vulnerable senior citizens in the state, noting that they had contributed their quota to the development of our society and they should be supported and care for by the younger ones to enable them age with dignity.
She expressed appreciation to the people of the state, most especially the women, for their continued support for the present administration in the state, pledging her humanitarian services for the upliftment of the citizenry, particularly the needy aged, whom she described as valuable assets who do not have a source of income or anyone to cater for them.
Amosun restated the commitment of her Uplift Development Foundation and the state government to the care and welfare of the aged and would not relent in their efforts in pursuing the social development programmes as they affect the dignity and care of the aged by restoring their fundamental human rights to equal treatment, both in the state and the nation at large.
The wife of the governor added that more programmes would be organised for senior citizens in order for her to regularly extend a hand of love and care to them as part of her service to humanity.
Presenting tips on: “How to Get Going at Old Age,” the state Commissioner for Heath, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, advised people from 40 years and above to go for regular medical check up to enable them know their health status as well as eat balanced diet like chicken, fruits and vegetables and do regular physical exercise to maintain a healthy living.
Soyinka said the state government had concluded plans to establish Community Based Health Insurance scheme, which would enable the aged to enjoy free medical care, noting that the governor revered them much and would do everything humanly possible to ensure their safety and protection.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Bisoye Adesanya and Tayo Obadina, expressed satisfaction on the performance of the governor, particularly the infrastructural work ongoing in the three senatorial districts of the state.
They prayed for God’s guidance and protection for him and his family.
Highlights of the event included free medical screening like eye, dental, high blood pressure, diabetes test among others by the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter; tributes from the beneficiaries; presentation of birthday gifts; and distribution of gift items like beverages, milk, garri, rice, sugar, yam tubers, pillows and small cash to more than 2,000 beneficiaries drawn from the 20 local government areas and non-governmental organisations in the state.