By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

THE commissioning ceremony of a street light project had been sceduled for 9.00 a.m. last Saturday but as early as 7.00 a.m. reports have started fittering out that a combined team of soldiers, Policemen and NDLEA operatives had condoned off all approaches to the notorious Akala community in Mushin area of Lagos for raid. At the end of the exercise which threw the entire neigbhourhood in confusion, several bags of what was suspected to be narcitics and dangerous weapons were said to have been carted away including several miscreants.

The 21 solar street light for five different streets within Akala environs aimed at reducing the rate of crime in the area was part of several activities marking this year’s EXCEL programme of the Apapa Family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG which believed that God is a God of light and Chrstians are duty bound show forth the light of God into the area.

The light which was just an aspects of the church’s corporate social responsibilty is believed, would activate the social economy of that area and if the residents nurse the feeling that they had been forgotten the church leadership proved that they were not forgoten.

Other aspects of this year’s CSR included medical support to those who cannot afford same. There were free medical checks for several residents of the area, and according to one of the volunteers, Pastor Yomi Daniels, a worker with a pharmaceutical firm,   the idea was to check the people for what he called the vitals.

He explained that at least 10 doctors, five pharmacists and a handful of nurses were on hand to examine the large crowd of patients for high blood pressure, malaria, dysentry and such like. “We will treat them and there is need for referal, such people are  referred to our Healing Stripes Hospital in Surulere or in severe cases they would be referred to the Laghos University Hospital, LUTH.

Mr. Adesanya Adekunle who represented the general manager, Lagos State Electricity Board,  Mrs. Damilola  Ogunbiyi thanked the Apapa Family who deemed it fit to emabrk on the laudable project.

“As we all know that when God was creating heaven and the earth, the first thing He created was light. In the same manner, the Apapa Family embarked on this corporate social responsibilty by providing all these street lights,” he stated and turning to the residents he said “I am employing you to ensure that these street lights are protected and free from vandalisation as we all know that if there is light there will be security, serenity and social economic activities will be enhanced.”

He assured them of his company’s readiness to maintain the lights as the need arises, adding “we will render such assistance to you. I pray that God will shine His light wherever we have been experincing darkness in our lives.”

Also elated by the development, the Odi Olowo Community, Mr. Lanre Elegbeleye appreciated the good gesture of the church, noting “we have been in the state of darkness for years and when they approached us that they wanted to do the street light we were happy because we know that it will help us to curb rate of crime in this our environment and also enhance security.

Great benefit

“I pray that this street lights will mark the beginning of good things in our commuinity. When the church first approached us with the intention, we did not believe because this area had been labelled a danger zone and had therefore been neglected. I believe the street lights will be of great benefit for us as darkness cannot prevail over light,” he said.

The head of the Apapa Family cutting the tape to commission the light, used the occasion to encourage the residents to turn away from evil and embrace God, promising that the church would do more for the community.

“God helping us as a church, we are just starting with this community. We are assuring you that we are going to do more by the special grace of God. As you will be beholding this light at night, you will remember our God who answers by fire and if you call on Him, He will surely answer and deliver you. If you allow the light of God in your life, darkness will disapear and series of breakthroughs will begin to take place in your life,” he noted.

The EXCEL programme also featured a talent show aimed at developing God’s gift in His children. The grand finale of God’s Chldren Got Talent at the Eko Hotel Zinnia Hall, Victoria Island featured five key talent groups: singing, dancing, musical instruments (comprising keyboards, drums, saxophone, recorder, violin) drama, writing, and drawing. Candiates are grouped into five age groups: 5-6; 7-9; 10-12; 13-15; 16-19.

At the end of the competition, the star prize went to the Group of 10.

Highpoint of the EXCEL pro-gramme was the ‘Be The Change’ programme at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos Island where 50,000 packs of food were distributed to the less privileged and the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye commended the efforts of the Apapa Family for always lifting the banner of righteous-ness, not forgetting. however, not to relent in their efforts because, according to him, the hallmark of the Christan race is evangelism.

Preaching a simple message titled: “Be The Change,” in a rain-soaked TBS, the inveterate soul winner urged the mammoth crowd who defied the early morning downpour, saying that a time is coming in Nigeria when nobody will become anything without the endorsement of Christians. “Not only will you be the decidiong factor, it will be one of you to rule in all sectors of the nation’s economy.”

He argued that every Christian is a branch of Christ and a branch is a repica of the stem, noting “if Chriust is the light of the workld, then we are the light of the world. Christ therefore expects you and I that wherever we go things must change for the better. We must be the change. When you arrive any place there must be a change for the better because you will become the change. We are having prpoblems in the country because we are not showing forth out light.”

In an interview, the Apapa Family head, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade said it is a tradition in the family to task one another in order to look after the poor and “we are the salt and light of the world, we are commisioned by our Lord Jesus Christ to provide light, heal the sick, feed the weak, and set thecaptives free. This is our mandate. We put all resources to make all these a reality.”

On how they managed to convince residents of Akala area of Mushin, he said: “The community is an area that has its own ‘rules’. For them to accept us and be part of the project they have to give us their compound for us to use; they provided all the storage facilities and assumed ownership of the project because it belonged to them. They are enjoying this kind of gesture for the first time in this area.

According to him, close to 10 years we set up House of Joy and one of the things that gave us the boldness to enter Akala is the House of Joy, they have been visiting the place every Thursday before now and we have been pulling out drug addicts and rehabilitating them. We detoxify, take care of them and get them rehabilitated. They learnt different skills and at the end we get them set up and that is what we have been doing.