Commissioning of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation Projects in Delta State

Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation (FJC) was in Delta State on the 23rd of November, 2017, commissioning a Police Station, a Primary Healthcare Centre, and a Primary School, all built and equipped by the Foundation. At the occasion, the President and Founder of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation, Mr Paul Odili, told the story of how it was a direct vision from God that gave birth to the Foundation.

A member of FJC’s Board of Trustees, Dr Magdalene Ajani, gave a presentation on how the Foundation has carried out successful free medical outreaches in 13 communities namely Ute-Ogbeje, Owa-Oyibo, and Agbor-Obi in Delta State; Jahi, Byazhin, Kubwa, Durumi and Jahi in the Federal Capital Territory; lhiagwa in Imo State; New Karu, and Goshen City in Nasarawa S1ate; Lokoja in Kogi State; Igbo-Etiti in Enugu State; Erin-Ile in Kwara State, where the Foundation has been having yearly Eye Care outreaches since 2012; and also, Assin Kushea in Ghana.

She said, during the outreaches, a total of 23,330 persons were screened by eye care professionals. 14,979 people among them received medicated eye glasses and 1,171 people had surgeries for cataract, pterygium, etc., and as many as had the need, received drugs, all free.

On the Education aspect, she said FJC supports education, especially that of children who cannot afford it in school, and in line with that, the Foundation constructed a primary school in Ani-Nwachokor comprising of 6 classrooms; Rehabilitated Ute-Ogbeje Secondary School; Constructed and fully fenced blocks of classroom comprising nine (9) classrooms, principal and staff rooms, security post and conveniences in a 3 block arrangement in lgwebuike Primary School, Ute-Ogbeje in Ika North East Area of Delta State to replace the badly dilapidated structures that were once there. Also the Foundation’s scholarship/sponsorship program has 13 beneficiaries who currently enjoy full scholarship benefits covering the entire duration of their studies from primary to University level with full sponsorship and FJC caters for the NECO examination fees of students in Ute-Ogbeje Secondary School

And it is, she said, in furtherance of its commitment to promote education that FJC is currently constructing a private University proposed as Margaret Lawrence University.

Continuing in the presentation, Dr Ajani said that on the Maternal and Child Health commitment of FJC, Primary Healthcare Centres have been built and fully equipped in 4 communities.

The Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was at the occasion, and, alongside the CP of Delta State, CP Zanna Ibrahim, the representative of IG Idris Kpotum, AIG Mohammed A. Adamu, and other government officials, the Galilee Police Station was commissioned. And the Foundation laying was done for another Police building which is to serve as the Area Command Block within the same compound that houses the Galilee Police Station.

From the Galilee Police Station, the dignitaries, led by Founder/President of FJC, Mr Paul Odili, moved to the Proposed site of Margaret Lawrence University (MLU) where Governor Ifeanyi Okowa laid a foundation block at “Beautiful Gate”, main gate into the Proposed University. Afterwards they proceeded for a tour of the proposed University premises.

The Next commissioning was at the Igwebuike Primary School where Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation had constructed blocks of classrooms and other structures to replace the dilapidated structures in the school premises.

And the final commissioning for the day was that of Owerre Olubor Primary Health Care Centre built and equipped solely by the Foundation for the community and its neighbouring communities.

2017 Annual Visit to Orphanages

Through its humanitarian arm, Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation, Paulo Group annually holds a Thanksgiving Session. For the year 2017, the Annual Thanksgiving was kicked off on the 23rd of September with visitations to Four (4) Orphanages – Poorest of the Poor Gwagwalada, Mother Theresa Children’s Home Gwarimpa, Abuja Children’s Orphanage Home Karu and Bema Home Lugbe.

The activity is one of the avenues employed by the Paulo Group to express gratitude to God for His mercies and goodness. During the visitations, foodstuff and consumables are donated to the various Homes selected each year.

Then the Group heads to church on Sunday to have a Special Thanksgiving Service ending the activities with a party where all staff, friends and partners come together and merry.

Inauguration of the Planning and Implementation Committee for the proposed Margaret Lawrence University

The inauguration of the Planning and Implementation Committee (PIC) for the proposed Margaret Lawrence University happened on Friday the 19th of May 2017. The occasion began by 11:47am with a brief session of praise and worship led by the Founder of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation (FJC) and Margaret Lawrence University, Mr Paul Odili. Engr. Samson Balogun hemmed the session with an opening prayer. Following, Dr. Magdalene Ajani introduced FJC to the attendees, speaking on how it emerged in 2011 with three major goals to support the then Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in providing Education to indigents, sound Maternal and Child Healthcare, wide-ranging Eye Care services, and undertaking other philanthropic activities as time and necessity may prompt.

She explained that the Foundation is taking higher steps of operations by going into University education. Hence the moves to establish a University, Margaret Lawrence University, Delta State, Nigeria. Presently, a good number of buildings have been completed at the university site – buildings for hospital, administration, hostels, lecture halls, a 15,000-capacity auditorium, etc. Also, she revealed that the Foundation’s Headquarter will be in the University community.

In his remarks, the Founder, Mr. Paul Odili, spoke about how FJC resulted from a vision where God told him to establish a ministry to cater for the needs of indigents in the society and how heeding the call has kept him in God’s abundance and blessings.

He revealed that the university is currently being developed on a land of over 114-hectares, a location now called “Galilee”, recognized by the Delta State Government as an autonomous community, and signed into law as such on the 1st of March 2017. Additional to the structures stated as existing there, the Founder said the community has a police station which has just been changed to an Area Command by the Inspector General of Police.

In a related briefing, he said the Governor of Delta State will be available to Commission the Primary Healthcare Centre built by FJC in Owerre-Olubor and the Area Command also built by FJC, in Galilee. He thanked everyone for agreeing to be part of the committee and enjoined all to put in their best for the mission to be achieved.

Setting up the PIC for the University is in obedience to the National University Commission (NUC) requirement that to be granted license, an aspiring university shall set up a PIC that will responsibly come up with all the paperwork; making up the Academic Brief, Law of the University and the Master plan. Then the committee, with the paperwork will be presented to the NUC, to obtain the University License. As part of the requirements by the NUC, buildings for the staff school are nearing completion at the university site and it is being expected that both the staff school and the university will commence operations this year.

The inaugurated chairman of the PIC, Professor Angela Okatahi expressed satisfaction that the proposed university is a conventional one and not specialized as this will cater to the needs of more people. She also expressed joy that the NUC included requisites for the establishment of a secondary school to “feed” the university. Other members of the committee present are Dr (Mrs) Magdalene Ajani, (Member, Board of Trustees) Mrs. Oluwakemi Oyelola (Secretary, PIC), Professor Felicia Anumah, Barrister Ralph Monye, Engr. Samson Balogun, Mr. Collins Ejikeme, Mrs. Dorcas Osode, Mr. Stephen Iwagoh. Professor Shola Kolawole was unavoidably absent.

The Closing prayer was said by Professor Anumah and the meeting ended at 1:00pm.

Erin Ile Kwara Outreach 2016

Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation (FJC) dispatched a team of 15 persons to Erin Ile Kwara State, on 14th December, 2016. The team comprised 1 Administrator, 7 Optometrists, 1 Nurse, 1 Pharmacist, 1 Medical Laboratory Scientist, 1 Program FJC Officer, 1 Media Officer, and 2 Transport Officers. They set out for the annual free medical/eye care outreach which the Foundation carries out in association with Bishop David Abioye of Living Faith Church (Winners Church), for the people of Erin Ile and their environs. The Foundation also brought a Consultant Ophthalmologist from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital to join them for the outreach.

It began on 15th December, 2016 and ended on 17th December, 2016. Daily, after the team has prayed, the outreach began at 8:30am with registration of patients who have gathered to be attended to. From the registration points, the patients below 30 years went to the Visual Acuity (VA) stands while those above 30 went for Blood Pressure Checks, then Blood Sugar Test, before proceeding to the VA stands. From the VA points, patients with VA of 6/9 or above went ahead to internal/external examination stands while those with VA below 6/9 went to do auto refraction before going to internal/external examination stands.

From the internal/external examination stands, patients were either sent to dispensing points for Glasses and/or Drugs, or refraction points where needed. Diagnosis were made and treated appropriately either with lenses or drugs and those that required surgical intervention were sent to the ophthalmologists for further investigations and surgery where necessary, while those that required follow up were referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin Kwara State. Counseling on eye related issues was also given to the patients.

A total of 624 patients were registered; 220 on the first day, 252 on the second day, on the third day 152. A total of 302 glasses were issued to patients. 43 surgery cases were handled by the Ophthalmologist, Professor Adepoju Feyisayo. She also handled the Post-Operative review and follow-up review scheduled for January 2017. 96 special and stock order lenses were also taken, to be produced by the Foundation and delivered to the patients, also in January 2017.

ANOTHER PHC, ANOTHER HANDING OVER

On the 29th day of April 2014, Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation was in Luvu-Madaki, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, for the official handover ceremony of the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) which the Foundation built and equipped for the people. It was geared towards achieving the Foundation’s goal of making quality maternal and child health services more accessible to the poor in needy communities.

The program featured a variety of activities. There were speeches, play and dance performances, honorary cultural dressing of Mr. Paul Odili, the President of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation, gift presentations and lots more. In appreciation, Mr. Odili gave a sum of N250,000 to the women who presented a short drama. The climax of the occasion was the official opening of the centre by the Governor’s representative. The occasion attracted lots of media attention and AIT for instance had a chance to meet with Mr Odili who told them that he does what he does with the Foundation, in appreciation to God and as a way to give back to the society.

To the people of Luvu-Madaki, it was a day to always remember because the PHC came as the very first of such a centre in the locality. However, to Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation, it was another opportunity seized to offer joy to humanity.

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Awards Well Deserved

On the 19th of July, and the 2nd of August, the President and Founder of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation, Mr Paul Odili and the Foundation, were awarded by the South African High Commission and the Nigerian Medical Association respectively. The award from the South African High Commission was given at a Dinner organised as part of the 2014 Nelson Mandela Day celebration.

Present at the dinner to give the award was Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The award was given in recognition of the Foundation’s contributions to the lifting of the helpless and poor in the society, such as were the interests of Nelson Mandela. The Foundation partners with the South African High Commission to keep public-spirited gestures alive.

nigerian medical association award

From the Nigerian Medical Association, the Award was given to Mr Paul Odili for his contributions to the Association’s outreach programmes and his inclinations towards seeing to the health improvement of the poor masses.

For the two awards, Dr. Muyiwa Olupona, the Director of Operations of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation was there and did receive the awards.

FJC at 4

27th January 2015, Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation turned four. And interestingly, the visionary President and Founder, Mr Paul Odili, put his business engagements on hold, seized an opportunity, and recounted the story of how the journey began. At the very lightly celebratory gathering were the entire staff of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation (FJC), a good number of staff from Paulo Homes Limited, a few friends and associates. The meeting was at one of the Paulo Homes’ Buildings in River Park Estate, Airport Road, Abuja.

Being ever charged and enthusiastic about the vision, Mr Paul Odili talked about how the vision of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation came to him from God in the early hours of 27th January, 2011. He talked about how the Lord had told him to see to it that joy and comfort is given to as many people as possible, with major emphasis on the poor, needy and neglected people of our world.

He spiritedly spoke and encouraged the audience on responding to God, and on giving, pointing out that there must be something God has been ministering to each person there present to give, in support of lifting mankind, spiritually, physically or otherwise. One’s position or office in life does not matter here. It could be one’s life, time, money, goodwill, anything at all. He has seen firsthand that giving in response to God’s prompting holds the key to one’s salvation from whatsoever may be holding one down. Giving opens great doors, he said, smiling reassuringly.

Moving on, he commended the staff of the Foundation for the work they have been doing diligently since the Foundation began operation. While responding to Mr Odili, the Foundation’s Director of Operations, Dr. Muyiwa Olupona, disclosed that the Foundation had attended to more than 20,000 patients who had one eye problem or the other. Further he mentioned that the Foundation has so far completed and equipped three Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). These are sited in three different rural communities of three Nigerian States, one in the North Central, one in the South-south and one in the South East.

The PHCs have helped indigent pregnant women, and seen them through to the safe delivery of their babies. Notably also, the Foundation has renovated or constructed classroom blocks in some rural communities, to improve learning in a conducive environment.

Closing, the President said that the Foundation is only just starting. As God keeps providing, the Foundation is committed to do more and more in line with its motto of bringing joy to humanity. And all would be to the Glory of God and God alone.