By Kunle SHONUGA
A Lagos-based cleric, Pastor Richard Minet, on Thursday took his 50th birthday celebration to Okobaba Destitute Home, Ebute Meta, where he fed and screened many less-privileged for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and glucose level.
Minet, a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 11, organised the welfare and medical outreach at the home for the lame, blind, beggars and other less privileged.
TBI Africa said the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebrator also donated rice, milk, noodles, clothes and shoes to the destitute in appreciating God for preserving his life in the past 50 years.
The outreach was organised in collaboration with a medical and diagnostic company, El-Lab Ltd.
Minet said at the event that he chose to identify with destitute persons at his golden jubilee celebration in order to put smile on their faces.
He said that the less-privileged deserved care and support from the society.
The cleric appealed to well-meaning individuals to regularly donate generously to the physically challenged and others in need to give them a sense of belonging in the society.
The Marketing Manager of El-lab Ltd., Miss Jane Okpala, told NAN that those screened would be followed up, depending on the results of their tests.
The Leader of the home, Malam Baba Mohammed, thanked Minet for the gesture and called on other Nigerians to donate to the home.
He appealed to the Lagos State Government to assist in renovating buildings in the home, describing them as dilapidated.
Mohammed also called for assistance in the education of children in the home to empower them to contribute to the society.
An inmate in the home and beneficiary of the outreach, Mr Sani Idris, lauded Minet, urging more public-spirited individuals and groups to show concern for the less privileged.
A band led by a gospel singer Emmanuel David, known as E David’s, performed for the children and adults who danced to the tunes.
