The Alumni Community and Philanthropy Unit of Babcock University, Ilusan, Ogun State, has organised an outreach programme for residents of the Makoko community in Yaba, Lagos State.
According to the institution, the outreach was aimed at providing medical care, food items, clothing and other basic necessities to underserved members of Makoko, a waterfront community with houses built on the lagoon..
The programme was led by the Associate Vice President, Alumni Community and Philanthropy, Dr. Jonathan Dangana, alongside members of his team.
As part of the visit, Dr. Dangana paid a courtesy call on the Baale of Makoko Community, Chief Steven Adji Migbe Hove 1, where he explained the purpose of the visit and presented a gift pack to the ruler.
He noted that the team came to share love and support with the community, stressing that the outreach was not about taking from the people but giving to them.
According to him, the team arrived with medical personnel to provide free medical services, as well as food items, clothing and toiletries for members of the community.
Responding, the Baale expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing the outreach as timely and impactful. He said many residents of Makoko had not seen a doctor or visited a hospital in the last two to three years due to financial constraints.
“We are very poor here,” he said. “Most of us cannot afford hospital bills. Having doctors come to us for free today makes me very happy. I wish this kind of programme can happen every month.”
He also highlighted challenges facing the community, including lack of access to water, electricity and proper shelter.
Purpose And Impact Of The Outreach
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Dangana explained that the outreach tagged, “Hail Babcock: Put a Smile on Someone’s Face.” was organised to put smiles on the faces of vulnerable members of society,
He said the primary beneficiaries of the programme were residents of Makoko, whom he described as deprived of basic amenities of life, saying the outreach focused on providing food items, toiletries, clothing and medical care to meet immediate needs.
Dr. Dangana revealed that the outreach is planned to be sustained annually for the next five years, with the aim of expanding its reach and impact.
He explained that the current economic realities have made it difficult for many people to afford basic necessities, and that one of the values instilled by Babcock University is compassion for those in need.
He also commended Babcock University students, particularly undergraduates, for their contributions, noting that many donated food items, toiletries, money and other resources to ensure the success of the programme.
He described the excitement of children in the community, who eagerly received items such as biscuits and ice cream, as a reminder of the importance of giving.
According to him, the outreach marked the second edition for the year, following an earlier one held in August, and lessons learned from the first programme helped the team prepare better for this edition.
Explaining why Makoko was chosen, Dr. Dangana described the community as a place that reminds visitors of shared humanity, noting that many things people take for granted elsewhere are prayer points for residents of the community, adding that many families, including nursing mothers and children, had lacked access to medical care for a long time.
The outreach featured a medical team made up of consultants, opticians and pharmacists, who provided medical consultations, eye care services and medications, as well as referrals to medical centres for cases requiring further attention.
As a faith-based institution, Babcock University also deployed a spiritual team made up of five pastors to pray with and encourage members of the community.
He lauded support from partners such as UAC and Maltina, and appreciated the President/Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Afolarin Olufunde Ojewole, for his support.
