Residents of Poka land trooped out in their thousands as compassion met action during a two-day free medical mission that transformed Pobo Primary School into a bustling health hub, earning widespread commendation from the Alade Uraka of Poka land, youths, and grateful beneficiaries.
The Alade Uraka of Poka land, HRM Oba Kolawole Aliru, lauded his honorary chiefs, Chief Mr. Ajaguna and Chief Mrs. Olu Ajaguna, the Otun-Bobakeye and Yeye Otun-Bobakeye of Poka Land for hosting the impactful outreach, while urging other chiefs and indigenous sons and daughters to emulate the gesture in service of the vulnerable and less privileged.
Speaking in an interview at the venue on Sunday, January 18, 2025, the monarch described the outreach as a fulfilment of his leadership vision to touch lives through honouring worthy sons and daughters with chieftaincy titles. He stressed that he had no regrets bestowing the titles of Bobakeye and Yeye Bobakeye of Poka Land, noting their enduring contributions to community healthcare.
“I’m proud of the helping hands extended by my Chiefs to the good people of Poka Land. What I’ve witnessed here is a testimony to their humanitarian lifestyle and I’m proud of what they’ve been able to achieve in the past days. What struck me the most was the fact that the numerous beneficiaries including children, youths, widows and old people were all smiles having received the medical consultation, treatments and medication free of charge,” the monarch said.
The medical mission, which benefited thousands of residents in Poka and adjoining communities, offered consultations, laboratory services, medications, eye care, dental services and general nursing support, entirely free.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Mrs. Olu Ajaguna, the Otun Yeye Bobakeye of Poka land, explained the motivation behind the outreach, describing it as a long-held dream.
“It’s like we brought a hospital here. We brought hospital for example when you visit a private hospital, you get your lab done, you get to see the doctor, you get to see the Nurses, you get see the oncologist, you get to see the dentist, to every special area of the hospital has been brought here today and we intend to serve anywhere from 500-1000 a day and in two days, we got 1000 plus people.”
She further reflected on the role of humanity beyond titles, noting: “Either having the chieftancy title or not, I’m a human being and I’ll be doing exactly what other humans are to be doing for another. The chieftancy makes it a little bit louder because people know me other than that. What we’re doing is humane and we are here in the world to be kind to others.”
Speaking candidly on poverty and empowerment, she added: “Well I just prayed that everyone of us gets to a stage in our lives that we have to give. So we need to have a job first so we can help others.”
She concluded with a heartfelt appeal for sustained support for healthcare: “I pray that we continue to help other people we are capable of and may the lord continue to help us all especially the health in Nigeria health is wealth. I hope bigger people ventures into helping people with medical care,” she said.
Earlier, the Chairman of Poka Youth Association, Comrade Sesan, alongside his executives who volunteered during the exercise, praised the organisers for what he described as a life-changing intervention. He noted that the outreach would positively impact countless lives and prayed that it becomes a continuous programme to ease the burden on residents.
Overwhelmed beneficiaries also poured out prayers and goodwill, expressing deep gratitude to the monarch and organisers for bringing relief, hope and healing directly to their doorstep.
