250 students, 196 community dwellers, benefit as Adeyanju flags off foundation.

Segun Oladipupo

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Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Sunday, officially launched the Prince Adewale Adeyanju Foundation (PAAF) in Lagos.

The foundation is aimed at giving back to the society as 250 primary and secondary school students as well as 196 community dwellers have already benefitted from the foundation’s largesse through provision of scholl bags, medical services in two days.

The launching attracted stakeholders from maritime and labour sectors, alongside members of MWUN and other notable well wishers present at the event held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

Founder, PAAF, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, in his opening remarks stated that the vision and mission of the foundation was to give back to the society especially the vulnerable persons.

Adeyanju, who doubles as the 1st Deputy President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), affirmed that the foundation had earlier embarked on medical outreach for senior citizens of the country within the Ajegunle community where about 196 people were engaged medically.

According to him, medications were distributed to some elderly people while medical check-ups, tests on blood sugar level, Blood Pressure and eyes were carried out in the beneficiaries.

He affirmed that part of the exercise leading to the official flag off was the distribution of books, bags and water bottles to about 250 students in three schools within the community.

The PAAF founder further urged government especially at the local government level to cater for the medical needs of the elderly saying that the well-being of the aged citizens must be made paramount.

He further encouraged members of the union to always check their health status regularly and mostly as it affects sugar and Blood Pressure.

However, the founder stated that plans are afoot to collaborate with the NGO established by his daughter and work seamlessly to give back to society.

“Almost everybody walking in the road have Blood Pressure (BP) issue and most of them do not have the capacity to access health care services and the local government is not taking good care of their citizens and this shows that the level of increase in health challenges is alarming.

“The state and federal government’s too do not provide enough health facility for people. That’s why some people move in the road and collapse and people will think that they attacked them, no. It is because they are not checking their BP, Cholesterol, and sugar level.

“Seventy six persons were discovered to have BP in two days among the 196 persons checked. The government should make sure that the citizens are taken care of. The government should empower and direct the local governments to make sure that all the citizens are well taken care of.

“We went to the schools, you can see how the schools are, the principal’s office was an eyesore. Those days when we were in secondary school, the principal’s office was like heaven.

“Since I started this foundation, it has opened my eyes more and we need to tell the government that all is not well with the citizens at the community, local government level. It means most people on the road are walking corpses.

“We gave out 250 bags to three schools including primary and secondary, 76 eye glasses were given to people, 196 persons were attended to, about 30 to 40 persons were referred because they have glucoma, others eye problems.”

Also speaking, Adetayo Adeyanju, daughter of the founder, PAAF appreciated the gathering saying, that the foundation is not in competition with any Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in humanitarian services but added that collaboration was key towards providing services to humanity.

Adetayo Adeyanju, described the founder as visionary because according her most Nigerians need help in numerous ways , especially as it concerns health, feeding and mental capacity.

“I thank you for celebrating my dad and loving him unconditionally.

Comrade Ismail Bello, Deputy Secretary, NLC stated that”We are happy that God has spared his life and God will continue to spare him.

He is an uncommon leader that represents the NLC. He lives to do his things quietly and doesn’t want to be heard meanwhile he is impacting lives.

“People are happy to work and associate with him even at the NLC level.

“We pray that God will empower ND bless him in wealth so that he can do this in a more elaborate way,”Bello extolled .

Chief Michael Orobosa, Managing Director, Micura Services Limited who also doubles as patron of PAAF stated that the innovation was what emulating

Orobosa, who was the chief launcher advised stakeholders to key into the foundation noting because commendations cannot buy common medications or food items to the needy.

He urged terminal operators represent to key into PAAF vision to serve humanity.

Bolaji Sunmola, a stevedoring expert expressed satisfaction over the progress recorded in the foundation adding that all hands should be on deck to promote the PAAF project in giving back to society.

Members of the MWUN lauded the President General innovation praying for God to take the foundation to enviable heights.

Treasurer of the MWUN, Comrade Uche Igweonu, described the gesture by PAAF as a tool for giving back to society noting that the gathering is aimed at celebrating the founder of PAAF for the laudable innovation.

Igweonu noted that “What we are doing today is giving back to the society, Adeyanju has seen it all and as a result, he has decided to give back to the society.

“I urge everybody here to emulate the spirit of giving back to the society. ”

Boniface Udoh, Deputy President General , MWUN, said “The question that struck me is who is Adeyanju, a father and my leader.

“It is a victory for those that need help. What we need to reckon with is how many years did it take him to put these things together.

“As we join our hands to make it great, I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will make it greater.

Comrade Francis Bunu, Deputy President General, MWUN said “For me, I know that it is in his DNA, it is his lifestyle to give to people, to push the job of humanity forward it is not a surprise to me.
I pray that God gives him financial backing to continue.”

Highpoints of the official launching of PAAF was the donations by the well wishers.