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Political office holders across Ogun state have been called upon to strengthen grassroots democracy by initiating targeted, community-focused welfare programmes that directly touch the lives of their constituents.
The charge was delivered by the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Dr. Kehinde Bello, who emphasized that governance must yield tangible, everyday benefits for the people at the local level.
Bello made the call while delivering a keynote address at a one-day medical outreach held in Ijebu-Imusin.
The event drew thousands of residents from across the Ijebu East, Ijebu North, and Ogun Waterside local government areas of the state.
The free medical intervention, tagged Jigi Bello and themed, “Restoring Sight, Renewing Hope and Transforming Lives Through Accessible Eye Care,” was specifically designed to tackle visual impairments and boost public health in rural communities.
Over 2,000 beneficiaries attended the outreach, receiving comprehensive eye examinations, professional medical consultations, and free prescription eyeglasses tailored to restore their vision and enhance their overall quality of life.
Speaking to the gathered crowd and community leaders, Bello stressed that quality health services must be treated as a fundamental right rather than an exclusive privilege for a select few.
He noted that bringing essential eye care directly to rural communities enables early detection of visual defects and prevents long-term blindness.
The OGEPA chief highlighted that the Jigi Bello program was conceived as a practical demonstration of delivering the dividends of democracy to the grassroots through interventions that address urgent, everyday needs.
Beyond basic eye tests and distribution of glasses, Bello went a step further by pledging to personally cover the full financial cost of medical referrals and follow-up surgeries for beneficiaries with complex or advanced eye conditions.
Reflecting on the broader political landscape, the agency head urged elected and appointed officials at all levels to complement ongoing state government efforts by sponsoring measurable, impactful community welfare projects within their constituencies.
Community elders and beneficiaries at the event expressed profound gratitude for the initiative, noting that the timely intervention had restored both their vision and sense of hope for a brighter future.
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