Kwara: NGO installs solar-powered street lights in Offa community market

As part of its community development services, the Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode (MOK) Foundation has installed solar-powered street lights in Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State.

The street lights were installed on Tuesday 25 July 2023.

The project which was embarked upon to illuminate affected transformers to improve the overall security and visibility within the community, has received widespread accolades with residents expressing their gratitude for MOK’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of the community.

According to the Foundation, the gesture was put in place to mitigate the environmental and economic challenges of the community, particularly the market men and women in the Owode community.

Mr Muhydeen Kayode who is the founder of the Foundation said the project is part of his interventions to give back to society and mitigate social and economic challenges facing the people at the grassroots.

Represented by Mr Saheed Lawal, he said: “As a non-governmental organisation, we saddle ourselves with many interventions for the betterment of the people. We have embarked on many projects from health to agriculture, to education, security, and commerce to bring succour to the grassroots and encourage the less privileged.

“The installation of the solar-powered street lights in Owode market was inspired by security consciousness. We were made to understand that the downstream of the market is a hub of activities especially for people who always come from neighbouring communities to sell their goods in the market, especially when it is a day or two days before the market day and as a result of blackout in that particular area, some unscrupulous elements in society use the opportunity to steal from these people. This among other factors moved MOK Foundation to end this nefarious activity by installing solar-powered street lights in those areas for illumination.

“We installed five solar-powered Street lights today and from our engagement with Owode market people, we realised that we have to do more for the economic growth of our market, and am happy that our people expressed gratitude towards the project. The Foundation was commended and they gave us the needed information and cooperation.”

He further appealed to the government at all levels to bridge the energy supply to underserved and off-grid communities.

Speaking on behalf of the market people, Mr Sarafadeen Afolabi appreciated MOK Foundation for such an insightful project.

In his words, “We thank the founder of the Foundation. This forms part of the important project we want in Offa. These street lights in no doubt will solve the act of theft and robbery in the market and it will assist the agrarians who always come with farm products a day to the market day. We are very happy about this great and substantial intervention of the MOK Foundation. May God continue to bless him and be with him in all his endeavours. We pray for more people that will do more for the community.”

In the same development, Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode Foundation also distributed Solar-Powered Street Lights in a bid to safeguard and provide security for transformers in Offa, Kwara State,

This was a swift response to the cases of vandalism of transformer cables in the Offa community.

The first batch of street lights was strategically distributed to nine key areas within Offa, which were affected by transformers’ vandalism. The areas are Olalomi Hospital, Blue Hostel, Iyeru Okin Bread, The Holy Place, Naval College Checkpoint, Igberiogun Community, Omo Owo, Dapson Hotel and Amuyo.

Mr Kayode, the founder of MOK Foundation expressed his concern over the discomfort and inconvenience caused to the residents of Offa community due to vandalising of transformers.