Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has charged religious bodies, social and other non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the government in its quest in ameliorating the plights of citizens and bringing services closer to them.
The deputy governor made this call on Friday, while speaking at the Official Commissioning of Ultra-Modern Hospital built by the Akoka Branch of the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria.
Hamzat, while making the call, noted that no nation developed just by the activities of government alone, even though such activities were very essential, saying that citizens, religious bodies, charity organizations and non-state institutions also had roles to play in ameliorating the pains of people and in bringing services closer to the people.
“No nation develops just by the activities of the government alone. Though the activities of the government are very essential, but I am saying that citizens, religious bodies, charity organizations must have roles to play in ameliorating the pains and sufferings of people or even bringing services to the people,” he said.
The deputy governor, while further emphasizing the need for everyone and organizations to play their roles for the growth of the nation, urged other religious bodies and organizations to emulate the Ansar-ud-Deen society in building infrastructures that would help to develop the country.
He, however, assured that the government would continue to do its own part to lift a lot of people “which is the only way we can build a suitable nation.”
He further assured that the newly commissioned healthcare would bring health care closer to the people and relieve other general hospitals as well as reduce the workload on the government.
The Chairman, Akoka Branch, Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Alade Bashir Lawal, in his welcome address, stated that the commissioning of the ultra-modern hospital was to connect medical care and the general wellbeing of the people, noting that “the general well-being of the people is inextricably related.”
According to him, the facility underpins the Akoka Branch’s vision of building a good medical facility aimed at creating the conditions that improve the health of the people, meet the particular needs of patients, family and communities.
Alhaji Lawal, while thanking all that contributed towards the completion of the hospital, solicited for additional support from other members and well-wishers towards equipping the hospital with more facilities for effective utilization.
President of Ansar-ud-deen Society, Nigeria and Overseas, Alhaji Abdul-Rafiu Ademola Sanni, in his own remark, commended the Akoka Branch of the society for the project which he described as laudable and appealed to the state government to hasten the on-going construction of the road leading to the healthcare facility to ease movement to the hospital.
In his opening remarks, the immediate past president of the society, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Olufemi Okunnu, who spoke through the State Council Chairman, Alhaji Rahman Salaudeen, admonished the members to take ownership of the hospital by ensuring that adequate maintenance was given to the facility.
He urged the society to patronize the hospital for their personal use and ensure that the purpose it was made for was sustained.
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