Self-development: Panacea To Economic Meltdown – Former Security Chief Counsels Nigerians

By Ayodele Adeyemo

In these days of economic downturn, Nigerians have been advised to live the old age adage that self-help is the best help. All hands should be on deck to complement government in its efforts to make life worth living for the citizens. This admonition was given by a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adedayo Adeoye.

The former security chief, who is also the Chairman Board of Trustees, Ede Senior Citizens Club, spoke while declaring open the maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the club in Ede Adeoye disclosed that the Ede Senior Citizens Club was established by some eminent sons and daughters of the ancient city at home and in the diaspora “with a determination and solid objective of changing the social landscape of Ede and contributing our respective quotas to the accelerated development of our fatherland, Osun State of Nigeria, and indeed humanity”.

Adeoye assured that apart from socializing and recreation activities, members of the club shall bring in their wealth of experience and connections across the globe to bear on projects that would in no time metamorphose into a revenue yielding outlets.

According to him, some of the projects include a multipurpose club house, Recreation Resort, Golf Course, and others that would serve as avenues for employment generation for some of the youths in the town and also a springboard for various activities to enliven the sprawling Ede city and Osun State in general.

Adeoye congratulated members for their zeal and commitment to the avowed objectives of the club, which has resulted in membership rise from 25 to 105 within its three years of existence.

Apart from deliberating exhaustively on the performance of the club and election of a new Management Committee, the meeting also featured a sensitization talk on the “Dos and Don’ts for Good Health and Longevity for the Elderlies”.

In the brief but interesting and enlightening talk, a consultant gentrologist from Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Dr Jide Seriki, highlighted some important things that either should be done or not done to promote healthy living of the elderly people with a view to rescuing them from age related and debilitating illnesses and diseases.

Among all other things, Seriki counselled on the following:
*The need for good social network and support, which is basic to healthy living and happiness.
*Appropriate diets in terms of food types and eating time.
*Drinking of water, which should not be less than 3 litres in a day. This will give the kidneys proper functioning. Alcohol and carbonated drinks should be avoided.

*All gadgets should be switched off for adequate sleep and rest.
*Avoid physical and psychological stress, while it is also important to indulge in exciting in-house games and stress-free leisures.
*Regular medical checkups as preventive measures against emergency health concerns.

*Engage in spiritual activities such as prayers and fellowship.
Dr Seriki commended members of Ede Senior Citizens Club for their foresightedness and concern for their health. He urged them to do a follow-up arrangement for either group or individual medical checkups.

The Annual General Meeting was climaxed with the election of a 13-member Management Committee led by Alhaji Chief Mumini Olalekan Salami. In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman promised that “with the calibre of members that constitute the new Executive we would not fail in our responsibility to lift Ede Senior Citizens Club to greater heights that will be commensurate to other notable clubs in Nigeria”.

Ede Senior Citizens Club was floated in December 2020 with the inauguration of a 25-member Board of Trustees chaired by DIG Adedayo Adeoye (Rtd) OON, with Dr Deji Adeleke as Patron and Professor Emeritus, Mrs Abiola Odejide and Alhaja Ramata Omotayo Adisa as Matrons.
The principal aims and missions of the club include:

*to be a novel recreation club
*to serve as a strong and virile voice in the affairs of Edeland.
*to collaborate with other clubs whose aims and objectives are similar with its own.