Beneficiaries share life-changing testimonies at Chief Rasaq Okoya’s free Medical Outreach

L-r …Dr Gbadamosi Oluwaseyi from Primary healthcare board, Lagos State; Chairman Eleganza Group, Chief Dr Razaq Akanni Okoya (CON); Managing Director, Eleganza Industrial City Limited, Chief Dr ( Mrs)Folashade Noimat Okoya, Consultant to Okoya at 86 Medical Outreach, Dr Jemilade Longe, during day 7 at the ongoing Medical Outreach Organized by Chief Dr Razaq Akanni Okoya for his birthday at 86 at Ajah, Residents held at Oluwaninsola Estate along Lekki –Ajah Expressway, in Lagos on 11/1/2026… PHOTOS: CHINYERE IKEANYI.

CHINYERE IKEANYI

For seven consecutive days, humanitarian action translated into tangible impact as more than one million Lagos residents accessed free, quality healthcare at the Rasaq Okoya @86 Free Medical Outreach held at the expansive Oluwa Ni Nsola Estate, Lekki, the private residence of renowned Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist, Chief Rasaq Okoya.

The outreach, which ran from Monday, January 5 to Sunday, January 11, 2026, formed a major highlight of activities marking Chief Okoya’s 86th birthday, reinforcing his decades-long commitment to humanitarian service, public health, and community development.

Residents from across Lagos benefitted from an extensive range of medical services, including general consultations, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, HIV and hepatitis testing, urinalysis, eye and dental care, as well as breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings. Wellness counselling, health education, referrals, and free medications were also provided, ensuring both preventive and curative care.

Beyond healthcare delivery, the initiative addressed access and dignity. Beneficiaries were fully catered for with meals and received ₦10,000 each as transportation support, a gesture widely praised as compassionate and thoughtful.

Speaking at the event, Dr. (Mrs.) Shade Okoya, wife of the celebrant, said the outreach was intentionally designed to help people understand their health status early and take informed steps toward healthier living. According to her, preventive care and health education remain critical tools in reducing avoidable illnesses and deaths.

Medical experts involved in the programme described the outreach as both timely and urgent. Dr. Aronmolate Ayobami, a plastic surgeon with Grandville Medical Services and a member of the medical team, noted that many beneficiaries presented with previously undiagnosed conditions such as hypertension and chronic ailments worsened by delayed medical attention.

“We are diagnosing, educating, referring, and prescribing,” he explained. “Patients receive immediate care and short-term medications, but they are also strongly advised to follow up with doctors in their local communities. Early intervention is far cheaper and safer than treating complications.”

Dr. Ayobami added that emotional support formed a key part of the intervention. “Healthcare is not only about drugs and diagnosis. Many people here lack financial resources, so reassurance, food, and humane treatment matter. Sometimes, the meal they receive here is their only one for the day.”

Originally planned to serve about 150 patients, the outreach far exceeded expectations, attending to well over 1,000 people, with many more still seeking care. Dr. Ayobami described the initiative as a collective achievement, praising Chief Okoya, Dr. Shade Okoya, and the technical and non-technical personnel who made it possible.

“Resources that could have gone into celebration were invested in saving lives. That decision alone speaks volumes,” he said.

For beneficiaries, the outreach proved life-changing.

Victoria Anike described the programme as exceeding all expectations, citing the efficiency, professionalism, and breadth of services. She said the outreach enabled her to know her HIV and hepatitis status and receive medications she could not have afforded otherwise.

“I am deeply grateful for what Alhaji Rasaq Okoya has done and continues to do,” she said, describing the ₦10,000 transportation support as evidence of genuine compassion.

Similarly, Abdulrahman Abdulkareem, 43, described the outreach as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He revealed that he received professional dental care for the first time in his life during the programme.

“I truly believe Allah has sent Chief Okoya as a blessing to mankind,” he said, adding that the initiative restored dignity, awareness, and hope beyond medical treatment.

Another beneficiary, Roseline Okon, described the outreach as extraordinary and life-saving, noting that the services provided would ordinarily cost over ₦200,000 in many hospitals.

“Many Nigerians abandon hospital care because they cannot afford it,” she said. “This programme addressed that reality directly. We received medical tests, food, and even financial support—freely.”

Roseline urged other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Chief Okoya’s example, noting that increased private-sector involvement in healthcare could significantly reduce preventable deaths nationwide.

Aisha Abdulaziz Akinsola said she underwent multiple essential screenings in a single visit, including blood pressure checks, cancer screenings, eye examinations, and HIV testing, with medications provided at no cost.

At the Pharmacy Section during the day 7 at the ongoing Medical Outreach Organized by Chief Dr Razaq Akanni Okoya for his birthday at 86 at Ajah Residents held at Oluwaninsola Estate along Lekki.

“This is a rare privilege that has improved health awareness for many people,” she said, praying for long life and continued strength for the philanthropist.

Another beneficiary, Onoja Blessing, described the outreach as an eye-opener, revealing that it was her first-ever breast cancer screening.

“I learned the importance of preventive healthcare and early detection,” she said, adding that the transportation support further reflected the thoughtfulness behind the initiative. She described Chief Okoya as “a seed of positive change” sown into her life.

Adding his voice, Chief Gbenga Obasa, a close friend of the celebrant, praised Chief Okoya’s enduring commitment to philanthropy and societal upliftment.

“True wealth lies in giving back,” he said, noting that God has blessed Chief Okoya abundantly and that his decision to extend those blessings to humanity is deeply commendable. He urged beneficiaries to continue praying for the philanthropist, expressing confidence that Chief Okoya would not relent in his passion for service to humanity.

As the curtains closed on the seven-day outreach, beneficiaries and observers alike agreed on one point: Chief Rasaq Okoya’s 86th birthday celebration transcended festivity, standing instead as a powerful testament to impact-driven philanthropy where celebrating life meant saving lives.