Unilag postgraduate students community gives back to society

By Henry Uche

The Postgraduate Students’ Community (PGSC) of the University of Lagos has reached out to Modupe Cole Memorial Home, Yaba; St Francis Junior Grammar School, Iwaya; and less-privileged dwellers within the neighbouring communities with various tangible and intangible offerings to ameliorate their plight amid current economic hardship.

Addressing reporters during the visitations, the President of the Community, Ezekiel Gbemisola, said the gestures were part of the group’s service to divinity through humanity. “Happiness doesn’t come from what we receive, but from what we give. We are here to make impact on humanity. So we pooled our resources together to touch lives. We understand perfectly that people are suffering unduely because the leadership of this country are not living up to expectations. So, each of us need to show a little act of kindness to one another, no matter how small, it goes a long way” he implored.

Speaking, the Commissioner, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos, Engr Olumide Oluyinka, represented by Director, Town Planner (Mrs) Bello Risikat Bukola, reiterated the state government’s resolve to lift people out of poverty by engaging in community services regularly. “We understand the situation in the country. But the State government is committed to partnering with groups like this to bring real governance to the people especially those in the rural areas”

A public health expert and the Vice President of the Postgraduate Students’ Community, Alice Amajama, advocated for consistent health education for people to know how to live better.

Amajama noted that some people in the country are sick but they are not aware, though working and walking around. “I think we should move away from preventive mindset to more of education mindset. It’s when people are better informed, they will be able to know how to prevent illnesses. So we need to shift from preventive to health education. This education must cut across the churches, the marketplace, community meetings, clubs, in school and other special health education programs should be conducted. The truth is that people are not just healthy, we need to help each other, the government must rise to its responsibilities to make Life worth living because we have the resources” she added.

A beneficiary, Mrs Bose Eniade, who appreciated the Community urged the federal and state government to look into grassroots governance as most people living therein could not afford basic necessities of life. “Government should partner with private organizations like this to offer democracy dividends in real time to the people. We voted them, they should deliver, people are dying of hunger and sicknesses: no water, no food, things are very expensive, the government should help us” she sobbed.

At St Francis Junior Grammar School in Iwaya-Makoko Community, Yaba, experts drawn from the guidance and counselling profession educated students on career guidance and mentorship. Sessions on digital and tech skills, entrepreneurship, and youth development were conducted.

Also, there were separate sessions for boys and girls on personal hygiene and wellness, with the distribution of sanitary pads to girls and educational materials to them. Donation of notebooks, pens, novels, stationery and other writing materials were highlights of the event. Best academically performing students in each class were given cash prizes.

At Modupe Cole Memorial Home, the Community offered food and other items including: Golden Morn sachets, cartons of noodles, bundles of clothes, shoes of different sizes, Hollandia evaporated milk, Checkers custard, Peak milk, Milo chocolates, toothpastes, toiletries, detergent, bath soaps, packs of medications.

Also at the Iwaya Kings Palace, they carried out free medical services to the people. Medical services offered to over 300 beneficiaries including children were: consultation with general practitioner (GP), blood pressure check, sugar check, body mass index (BMI), PCM tablets, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin B complex tablets, folic acid tablets, amlodipine tablets, Ferovital multivitamin, vitamin B complex syrup, PCM syrup and Kidprofen syrup (ibuprofen).