Return of a Pan-Africanist
By JOSSY IDAM
Saturday, February 9,
2008
On the first Monday of the year, January 7, 2008, residents
of Sagbokoji, a riverine community in Lagos, were drumming,
dancing and singing as if it was still Christmas. But their
jubilation had a sound reason. A Washington– based organization-Free
Africa Foundation (FAF) built and handed over a 13-room primary
health centre to the community.
Malaria-free zone
Founded and headed by a professor of Economics, George Ayittey,
who sees himself as a citizen of Africa, FAF has been involved
in the health scheme of the community over the years. And
the state government even sees it as an esteemed private partner.
The organization made its entery by giving the people free
malaria drugs and treated insecticide mosquito nets. Adjoining
riverine communities which benefited from the scheme include
Igbo Alejo and Alu Agon. The organization is using the hitherto
neglected communities in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area
of the state to launch its malaria Free Zone scheme. “We’ve
done the same in Ghana, Benin and Kenya. We’re helping
to fight malaria scourge in Africa,” professor George
said.
Hand over
While receiving the building on behalf of the state, the representative
of the commissioner of Health who was absent, Dr Williams
thanked FAF for its noble gesture and promised that the clinic
will be fully utilized.
Though the chairman of Amuwo Odofin local government, Chief
Rasheed Otolorin was absent at the event, his representative-the
council manager-chief Mrs. Oluyemisi described FAF as a committed
partner of the state’s fight against malaria. She further
praised FAF and said the clinic will come handy in the area
of maternal and childbirth health delivery. The Oba of the
area, Oba Onisowo also sent a representative.
Secondary school
The $65,000 clinic has a pharmacy, injection room, female
and male wards. In an answer to the plea of Sagbokoji’s
Baale, Bishop Anthony, who used the occasion to highlight
the area’s need of a secondary school, Professor George,
told the gathering his organization has been given a portion
of land by Oba Onisiwo to commence the construction of the
a secondary school this February.
According to the Baale, the community has often lost students
while crossing the lagoon at high tide during the raining
season.
The Pan-Africanist
Professor George is a distinguished professor of Economics
at American University, Washington, D.C. Though he has a Ghanaian
passport, the country of his birth, he sees himself simply
as a citizen of Africa. In the mold of great Africans like
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Kwame Nkruma, he set up the foundation
in 1993 to “empower African people to take charge of
their own destiny. We believe in Africa’s solution to
Africa’s problems,” he said.
To fund its projects, professor George told Saturday Sun the
foundation solicits the support of investors on Wall Street.
FAF’s coordinators in Nigeria and Benin are Alhaji Dayo
Thomas and Thompson Ayodele. |
