The novel Coronavirus which started in China but now become a global pandemic had made it glaringly clear that governments worldwide alone, can not meet all the requirements of citizens hence the need of an individual community to come together and forge a way ahead. The COVID -19 pandemic that locks down the whole world socially, economically, emotionally and what not had actually exposed our weaknesses and lack of social cohesion.
President Muhammad Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria announced Total Lockdown in some parts of the country (Lagos, Ogun and FCT) as a measure to contain the ravaging effects of the global menace, COVID – 19.
Ososa, the home town of Doyen of Theatrical Arts, Late Osetura Hubert Adedeji Ogunde and the first indigenous Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs and Excise, Late Pa Samuel Odugbesan, is 4km away from IjebuOde in Ogun State.
Two young members of the community came up with a suggestion for all willing members of the town to voluntarily support their task of raising fund to provide Relief Packages for 200 vulnerable people, elderly, widows/widowers and less priviledgeď) using the online social media WhatsApp forum, already in existence.
The two young guys launched the project while others contributed tremendously. To the shocking amazement, almost every resident and indigenes, home and abroad donated to this course and hit their initial target due to the high level of response and commitment.
Giving a detailed report, the chief coordinator of the project, Mr Muyideen Leke Ogunkoya expressed his sincere appreciation at the level of trust bestowed on him and his relief crew, drawn from all the seven quarters of the town.
He indicated that as at that day Saturday, April 11th 2020, sons and daughters of the land had provided relief packs for 75 people per quarter while the government had supplemented it with 30 packs, making a total of 105 relief packs to people in each of the seven quarters.
Total donations received to date was – N2, 530,000 (Two million, Five Hundred and Thirty thousand.
He further expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Relief Crew to the Royal Father, Oba Dr ‘Toye Alatishe (Gbegande of Ososa), The High Chiefs of all the Seven Quarters, elders and youths of the town for their utmost support and sense of direction. The Royal Father commends the efforts and participation of every individual involved in the community project and prays for God’s blessings and continued unity and commitment for community development, which had been the principles on which our forefathers had been developing the community.
He further charged the young organisers to see it as a means of developing necessary leadership skills.
Omoba T ‘Bisi Odukoua, the Secretary-General of Osisa Descendants Union (UK/NI) also appreciated the collective efforts of all contributors and organisers for re-activating the usual social cohesion in the community.
