The Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) on Monday presented cash and food items to Mr. Shola Ademola whose mentally challenged sister gave birth to twin boys on July 12, at Alcel Hospital, Okokmaiko, Lagos.
The donations were made on behalf of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, and Imam Hakeem Kosoko of Lagos State Secretariat Mosque.
Ademola and his family received the items at the Agency’s headquarters in Oshodi.
Bunmi Ademola, who had suffered mental illness for 18 years, went into labour at Okokomaiko bus stop and was taken to the Alcel Hospital, Okokomaiko by good samaritans where she birthed the twins.
Mr. Gbolahan Odusanya, CEO Corner47 Travel and Tours, told NAN that the matter got to the authorities after a Facebook user, Lamidi Opeyemi, contacted him on his Facebook editorial page ‘Iyen Na Nice’, soliciting for financial support for the twins.
Odusanya said he gave the family N50,000 on behalf of the Chief of Staff, while the Imam donated one bag of rice and one ram on behalf of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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“After she gave birth, the younger brother, Shola Ademola, was located and he took responsibility of caring for the children after which the mother was taken to Ogbomoso, Oyo State, for further treatment.
“Lamidi Muminat Opeyemi reached out to me on my Facebook page ‘Iyen na nice’, asking for help for a mentally-challenged woman who was in labor at Okokomaiko bus stop.
“After she was taken to the hospital by good samaritans at the scene, my Facebook friend continued to update me on the condition of the children and I reached out to Imam Hakeem Kosoko and others for help.”
Odusanya promised to give Ademola 20,000 Naira monthly and ensure he secured a job to enable him cater for the children.
The General Manager, LNSA, Mr. Ifalade Oyekan, in a remark, commended the intelligence gathering efforts of the corps at the area that ensured the location of the family.
“The events that happened leading to this moment are a testament to the fact that neighborhood safety corps is about the closest law enforcement outfit to the community.
“When the issue came to our office, we used our intelligence officers to gather more information about the woman and we found her brother at no. 4 Sunny Abidogun, Jakande logbo.
“After our investigation, we sent our operational officers to the Divisional Police Officer’s office at Okokomaiko for more information and follow-up on the matter,” he disclosed.
Oyekan advised Ademola, who is also waiting on the Lord for a child, to care for the children as his own without any discrimination even after having his own children.
He commended the efforts of Odusanya, saying he went the extra mile by soliciting for support to ensure the children were well catered to.
He called on citizens to be their brother and sister’s keeper by speaking out and helping others in need.
“We all need to be involved in governance because the contribution of the citizens goes long way in helping the government.
“When you see something unusual, say something and report things as at when due because delay is dangerous,” he said.
Responding, Ademola expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government, donors and all who supported the family since the birth of the boys.
“I am very happy for all they have done for my family. Today, we received the sum of N50,000, one ram, a bag of rice and I was also assured of 20,000 monthly.
“My wife and I have been together for a long time without any children. My sister’s children are also mine and I promise to do all I can to take care of the boys as my own,” he said. (NAN)
