Health Minister Tasks Religious Institutions on Nation Building

• .Distributes 200 mosquito nets to Lagosians

Martins Ifijeh

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has called on religious institutions in the country to contribute their quota to nation building through corporate social responsibilities.

He said the country was in an important stage of development requiring all hands to invest in it, especially from religious homes.

Stating this during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Upper Room Baptist Church in Lagos, Adewole said when churches and mosques contribute by investing in people, many doors of opportunities will be opened that would on the long run benefit the nation.

The Health Minister, who was represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Council, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof. Femi Fasomade, noted the church has an obligation to build the kingdom of God and by so doing, was equally building the nation.
“The church has over the years produced prominent members of the society who graduated from missionary schools and the church still have enough human resources to develop the country.”

Adewole, while advising the congregation to visit hospitals whenever they feel sick for early diagnosis and treatment, he condemned self medication.

The minister, who distributed over 200 mosquito nets to the audience advised them to prevent mosquito bites by sleeping under the insecticide treated nets.

Speaking on the excellence award, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Oluleke Akinola, explained that the church has been active in its corporate social responsibilities of rendering health, education and spiritual assistance to the residents of Kosofe community.

The cleric said the vision was given by God to reduce poverty and crime in the community by sponsoring children to school and giving awards to motivate the students, teachers and principals.
“Some years back God gave us a vision for Kosofe environment that has about three local governments under it. When we look around, there is poverty, crime and other things flying around. Then we considered health, education and the spiritual life of the people.

“We have been doing this to assist the government because they can’t do it alone. We can say we are doing enough because it equally means we don’t want to improve. The church is doing what it needs to do and there is room for improvement,” he said.

Pastor Akinola commended the Lagos State Government for policy initiatives which according to him were positively affecting education in the state.