Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ikeja Stake, Lagos, joined other stakes in Africa to mark its annual All-Africa Service Project with community sanitation.
Members in Ikeja, Yaba, Maryland cleaned drainages, swept streets, and cut grasses in the neighbourhood, among others.
Armed with brooms, cutlasses, waste bags, shovels, face masks, hand gloves, and sanitisers, provided by each participant, the volunteers promoted cleanliness and healthier living.
Beyond sanitation, the Yaba Stake extended the outreach to include free medical checks, with sensitisation on importance of blood donation. Members also organised a fitness session, while residents received food items distributed by the church.
Ikeja Stake President, Moses Ekpah, said the project was conceived to foster unity and community service.
“This is an annual event where members support communities in keeping their environment clean. It is an expression of love, brotherhood, and the teachings of Jesus Christ, who commands us to love our neighbours,” he said.
Ekpah noted that the exercise required no external funding, stressing members made sacrifice by bringing their tools and refreshments. “Every member contributes what they can, whether it is a shovel, rake, or even water. It is selfless service,” he added.
He also lauded Lagos Waste Management Authority for providing waste bins and personnel to collect refuse. “The community has been receptive, and with LAWMA’s partnership, the project is running smoothly,” he said.
Representing LAWMA, Gbemniyi Esan said the collaboration is an important effort towards ensuring a healthier environment.
“We are partnering with the Church to see to the well-being of the community and create a good environment for everyone,” she said.
Also lending his voice, Coach Eto’o Nsebe Onsirbe, an athletics trainer who led a fitness session during the programme, emphasized the importance of exercise to community health.
“Without physical activity, you cannot live long. Even a simple routine of 20 to 30 minutes daily improves cardiovascular endurance, lowers blood pressure, and prevents diabetes and hypertension. We encourage people, even office workers, to embrace simple exercises like brisk walking,” he advised.
From the medical perspective, Deputy Director Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeyemi Adeniran praised the initiative, noting that community wellness extends beyond physical health.
“Health is not just the absence of disease but complete physical, mental, and social well-being. As individuals, we must build healthier communities by staying active, maintaining good mental health, and looking out for one another,” she said.
She stressed the need for Nigerians to cultivate happiness and extend care to family, friends, and colleagues, adding: “Checking on others and showing concern is part of building a healthier society. A person may not be physically sick but could be mentally unwell due to stress or loneliness. True health is when we care for one another.”
The All-Africa Service Project, which is simultaneously observed in several countries, has become a hallmark of the Latter-day Saints’ commitment to community development and volunteerism across the continent.
