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| Founder of PUSH Foundation, John Adeshina distributing books to the children in the camp |
For their November edition of Feed & Clothe the Needy, PUSH Foundation, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) visited Okobaba, Ebute Metta Destitute Camp in Lagos, Nigeria.
The camp, built in 1997 by the administration of Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.) while serving as Military Administrator of Lagos State. This he did to remove beggars, mostly of northern extraction from the streets of Lagos.
The camp has 3 groups, Blind, Leper and Cripple, each with a king. The king of the blind is Adamu Sarki Makafi, that of Leper is Ado na Amadu while that of the cripple is Amadu Gaya, all with their special seats to indicate their positions. They call the place they sit their palace and they have people around them they refer to as chiefs. It looks like they have been on the throne for a long time; this reporter didn’t ask to know if there is a succession plan.
At the entrance of the camp, a visitor is approached by 3 men. The men were later identified as agents of the 3 groups by this reporter. They ask which group you are there to see and lead you to their king who then helps you to carry out your plan, most times, giving to them. This is not done until you have given the king his, specially.
PUSH Foundation led by the coordinator, John Adeshina and volunteers, distributed Drinks, Noodles, Clothes, Books and writing materials to the groups in the camp.
The king of the cripple, Amadu Gaya, speaking with Alimosho Standard, thanked Lagos state government for the support they are getting but pleaded that the road leading into the camp should be constructed for easy access by people. He also pleaded that the ceilings of the camp and Soak-away need urgent attention.
Speaking with Alimosho Standard, the Founder of PUSH Foundation and a statistician by profession, John Adeshina articulated his passion for touching lives. He called the NGO a vision he had a long time ago.
For two years that the NGO has been running, they have visited communities, orphanage homes, slums and less privileged people to give clothes and feed them.
PUSH Foundation also organizes events in schools where “John Bosco”, a fictitious character the founder created, talks to the students to ignore cultism and other social vices. They also organize concerts where they raise money and give all to the less privileged.
Though John Adeshina who spearheads the activities worked with a multinational company in the past, he resigned to face what he calls his passion, squarely. He can be reached on pushinternational.org@gmail.comor on phone 07030128112
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| (L-R) John Adeshine with king of cripple Amadu Gaya, Femi Odeyemi and Funke Fayemi |
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| Wole Soyinka's Award's winning journalist, Funke Fayemi and John Adesina, carrying one of the babies in the camp |
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