Politics
MR Desmond Elliot, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, says the forthcoming ‘Gbajabiamila Football Under-16 Competition’ for secondary schools in Surulere Constituency I, is to reduce youth restiveness in the area.
Elliot said this at the Surulere Constituency I Health Insurance Scheme for the Elderly in Lagos on Sunday.
Elliot said that the maiden edition of the competition, in honour of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, had been slated for Feb. 28 to March 30.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised to celebrate Elliott’s birthday on Sunday.
Elliot, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, explained that the competition was organised as part of his programmes for war against drug abuse, cultism and rape, currently ravaging the society.
“Today, I am providing the health insurance scheme to over 700 senior citizens from 60 years and above and also distributing free JAMB forms to 500 Constituency members.
“The next one we will be having is the Femi Gbajabiamila U-16 Football competition.
“This will be starting at the end of February; so we will invite the media for adequate coverage.
“The aim of the competition is to preach against drug abuse, rape and cultism.
“Hence, we will be going to each school around Surulere. I will be going with celebrities as well. This will be mixed with the football competition,” he said.
Elliot said the move was also targettted at mobilisation of younger generation to discourage them in engaging in social vices.
“We are letting them to know that we are still with them. So, basically, we have a lot in stock as far as Surulere is concerned,” he added.
Elliot described the socio-economic situation in the country and was optimistic that there is hope at the end.
Elliot said the focus of the medical outreach was for the elders of Surulere and a follow up to free Health Insurance Scheme initiated by him.
He said, “We started in 2022 with 300 elderly people and last year, the figure increased to 500 while 1,000 would be catered for this year.
“What is the idea? We are to help the elderly because mostly, they don’t suffer for malaria and typhoid alone as much diabetes, high blood pressure and other ailments.
“So, the health insurance scheme is to have a coverage which will cover for diabetes management, physiotherapy, among others,” he said.
The lawmarker also said that there was also plan to give out 500 JAMB forms for residents across the eight wards who have SSCE or GCE.
“However, coming here, we are seeing more people and we will accommodate them as well.
“All these is just to celebrate my birthday and to say ‘thank you God’ for sparing my life and my family, because my wife and I just survived a major fire incident about 10 days ago.”
Elliot congratulated Mr Faud Laguda for being victorious in the Surulere I Federal House of Representatives by-election that was held on Saturday.
The lawmaker assured residents of Surulere that Laguda’s representation would be top-notch.
He said that Gbajabiamila would continue to give adequate guidance to his adherents.
(NAN)
T.S
-February 5, 2024 @ 7:26 GMT|
Tags: Desmond Elliot Femi Gbajabiamila
