The good people of Odu Ogboyaga in Dekina Local Government area of Kogi state have every course to continue to express gratitude to Almighty God in every situations.
The entire Odu spread to over 10 by nomenclatures had a sigh of relief from provision of social services from the early days of Senator Alex Usman Kadiri who was Director General, Federal Ministry of Water resources and later became Kogi east Senator with provision of pipe borne water across the towns and villages.
These among many other services were attracted to the ancient towns and villages either by the indigenes in public offices and private endeavors.
The last was the establishment of a cottage hospital in Odu Ogboyaga by the Capt Wada’s administration towards the twilight of his government in 2016, but was closed down by subsequent administration which led to not only job losses, but provision of health care to the entire community and by extension Kogi east was stalled.
The people of the town’s hue and cry was not attended to hence reverted to engaging services of road side patent medicine stores, dispensaries while others embarked on medical toursim outside their domain.
As at the time of the report, the new hospital was under lock and key with most of it’s sophisticated equipment installed in the area, stolen, and vandalised by the criminal elements and their collaborators.
But , for the existence of sons and daughters of the area with the patriotic zeal to give back to the society , here comes the succour of equavelent of a secondary tertiary health institution by the son of the soil, popularly known as Akor TAK at a time the country had manourverd through COVID, dual economic recession and the dire consequences of COVID, that had done a quantum damages to the health challenges of our ruralites.
The decision of the good samaritan, community leader with selfless disposition to establish the multi billion naira standard health facility showed that beyond government, privately and public spirited organizations and individuals could play a greater roles in ressolving the dearth of health challenges in the area, by extension Kogi east and Kogi state at large.
The virtue of life touching activities and passion to impact on humanitarian gestures, had ressolved the lingering of health challenges that had been the bane of quality health care in the area.
Health , they said it is wealth, from the provision of basic health care services, the good samaritan in his popular name ‘Akor Tak ‘will encourage not only other well meaning sons and daughters of the area, but organised private sector among many others including public spirited individuals into keying into such laudable programs and gestures.
These disposition was a big challenge to government at all levels, from local governments, states and the federal government and the need to prioritize social services to the citizenry.
The inauguration of the hospital attracted both local and international communities to the occasion, to learn the intricacies of community service, not only to one’s immediate environment, but the country at large.
What Mr ‘Akor Tak’ had instituted will be a rallying point and departure from well meaning individuals to reach out to communities and impact on their lives as communal service.
So many indigenes of the area are well to do in the society, the singular gesture of ‘Akor Tak’ will not only challenge them into contributing their own quota, but an encouragement to do more and give neccessary assistance to the society.
For ‘Akor Tak ‘, the broken record of giving back to the society, will take a long time to be replicated as he had laid a solid foundation for the emancipation of not only Odu Ogboyaga communities, but by extension other neighbouring communities.
One good turn, they said deserved another. Well done job “AKOR TAK”.
ABUBAKAR YUSUF writes from Abuja and can be reached on [email protected].
