A non government organisation (NGO), the Ifelodun Renewed Efforts for Development and Empowerment (IREDE) in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has conducted a free medical tests for the people of the area.

The team of medical experts, led by Dr Tayo Sanni of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital screened about 120 people,testing their blood pressure and sugar level.

Speaking at the occassion, the Executive Secretary of Oriade local Government Area of Osun State, Chief Taiwo Fatiregun reminded the rural dwellers on the need to form organisations that could partner with the local governments in the provision of infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

Fatiregun, who was the guest of honour at the free medical mission called on individuals and groups to join in the development of the rural areas.

“It is a known fact that government cannot adequately meet the needs of our rural communities, we must all be up in the task of developing our communities. In my local government area, a good number of our people are partnering with us in electrification and provision of potable water among others. On my own, I built a motor park in Ijebu-Jesa with a motorised borehole to serve our people and a recreational centre in memory of the music icon- I.K Dairo as a personal project.

“As a government; we are currently opening up new roads where there had been hitherto no access roads for our farmers in the hinterland and construction of 3,200 meters of drainage across the length of the council area to forestall cases of flooding in addition to the existing ones. Our efforts in other areas of human living speaks for itself,” he said.

In his address, the coordinator of IREDE, Kayode Oyin-Zubair said the group was out to intervene in diverse areas that might affect the well-being of the people of the area.

He added that the group had also repaired some hand pumps built by DFFRI that had long been abandoned in some communities in the area.

IREDE, according to Zubair, has a blueprint for socio-economic development and realistic empowerment for the people which would run through four years.

At the occassion, a philantropist, Mr. Akeem Amoo promised to institute a life assurance scheme worth N5 million for the people of the community.