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A non-governmental organization, Olagoke Victor Laniyan (OVL) Foundation has empowered a thousand widows, pregnant women and underprivileged persons with free healthcare and food items through its Love Outreach Programme for the yuletide season.
The outreach programme, which was held at Multipurpose Hall of the University of Lagos, featured distribution of various food items, medical check-ups of blood sugar level and blood pressure, health talks and a praise concert.
Executive Director, OVL Foundation, Victor Laniyan said the outreach was one of many programmes the foundation holds to empower vulnerable persons since it began in 2016.
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Laniyan explained that the decision to include healthcare in the programme was borne out of “the reality of Nigerians being hard working people and having medical care should go alongside the empowerment.”
“Over the years, we have gone to different locations through outreach programmes and we decided to have a common platform this year where people can benefit en masse from our programmes,” Laniyan said.
He, however, urged beneficiaries to prioritise their health and show love to their neighbours during the yuletide season.
Acting Executive Secretary, Oyinlola Scott-Igbene said the need to put smiles on people’s faces through empowerment necessitated the programme.
“As an organization, we are guided by the belief that every human should be entitled to and not alienated from equal opportunities, economic justice, accessible and prompt healthcare as well as the tools to carve and work out their economic freedom and independence,” Scott-Igbene said.
A beneficiary of the programme, Bunmi Odewale, while commending the empowerment initiative, urged the government and well-meaning Nigerians to emulate OVL foundation in giving vulnerable person reasons to smile.
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