News Release

48 Communities Benefit from 67000 Hours of Service

Hand in Hand, Serving the Community

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nigeria worked hand in hand with members of other faiths, community residents and government agencies in over 67,000 hours of community service on Saturday, August 15, 2015. The service benefited tens of thousands of people in over 48 communities spread across 22 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Armed with rakes, shovels, brooms, cutlasses and other implements, the volunteers provided service that included opening and clearing of blocked drains, rehabilitation of roads, cleaning of parks and cemeteries. Schools, hospitals, markets, motor parks, and other public places were also given a facelift.

Hundreds of members in the distinctive yellow Mormon Helping Hands vests, alongside uniformed men of the Nigerian Police and other government agencies, attracted community members who stopped by and asked questions regarding the exercise.
 
“At first I thought you people were from the government”, said a female resident of Awori Street in Orile-Agege area of Lagos state, one of the benefitting communities, “I have never seen a church do what you people are doing.”
  
From Nsit Ubium to Ilorin, Abeokuta to Yenagoa and across the country, reactions of community members were the same – smiling faces and expressions of appreciation.

Alhaji Abdallah Osayimwen, a leader of the Muslim Community in Benin City, remarked, “We love the idea of this project; inviting us to take part is important to us because it as an act of love.  We are all brothers and sisters from one God.  We would like to take part in future, and in a larger number.”

The projects also drew the attention of members of the press, some of whom partnered with the Church as active participants. Interviews were conducted in English and local languages, taking views and comments from community leaders and residents, representatives of government agencies, and members of the Church.

In Calabar, some volunteers worked at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Medical doctors and nurses present commended the Church for such a thoughtful service. Dr. Godwin O. Bassey of the Dental department remarked, “This is a great work. I can assure you that even the patients will get healed fast by the feel of a clean environment and the show of love demonstrated today.  Thank you.”

In Abeokuta, Akure, Ibadan and Ile-Ife, volunteers weeded, painted and beautify traditional palaces and their environs. In Abuja, a block of classrooms at a primary school in Byazhin was renovated, while relief materials were donated to an internally displaced person’s camp. Others carried our renovations in a medical centre in Mararaba. 

In locations including Asaga-Ohafia, Afaha Nsit, Etinan, Abakpa Nike in Enugu, Ibesikpo, Ikot Akpaden, Ikot Ekpene, Mbaise and Owerri, road rehabilitation works and blocked drainages were cleared. Markets, town halls, community centres and motor parks were freed of huge refuse and weeds in places like Asaba, Ekpoma, Ilorin, Ikot Akpabin, Nsit Ubium, Okpuala Ngwa and Port Harcourt. Hospitals and medical centres, government secretariats and a fire department benefited from the volunteers’ services in Aba, Akamkpa, Eket, Ibiono, Ijebu-Ode, Oron and Uyo.

Those that participated in this years’ community services consist of about 15,000 members of the Church and 1,200 people from other faith based and governmental organizations, the media, NGOs, residents of benefitting communities. They provided a total of about 67,000 hours of community service.

The All Africa Service Project takes place annually in 35 African countries simultaneously in areas where there are organised congregations of the Church. This year marks the 9th edition of the project.


For story on a typical service project, visit:
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/abakpa-nike-church-rescues-neglected-enugu-suburb/

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