Excitement as 1,500 Lagos residents get free medical care

In Nigeria, where late disease detection worsens health outcomes and catastrophic out-of-pocket spending limits access to healthcare, free medical outreaches play a critical role in bridging healthcare gaps in underserved communities by promoting preventive health through screenings and awareness. The Razaq Okoya @86 Medical Outreach in Lagos underscored the lifesaving power of early detection and access to free healthcare. IDOWU ABDULLAHI reports

For a week, the palatial grounds of the expansive Oluwa Ni Nsola Estate in Lekki, owned by renowned Nigerian business mogul, Chief Razaq Okoya, were transformed into a bustling hub of care and quiet relief as Lagosians streamed in for a free medical outreach.

Throughout the weeklong programme, the estate stood not merely as a symbol of wealth but as a temporary sanctuary where access to healthcare was restored.

As plans were being drawn up to mark his 86th birthday, Okoya’s thoughts were not fixed on fanfare or personal indulgence.

Instead, he chose a celebration rooted in service.

Okoya, who is the Founder of Eleganza Group of Companies, opened the doors of free healthcare to hundreds of Lagosians, placing the well-being of people above ceremony and spectacle that hallmarked his 85th carnival-like birthday shindig.

For the industrialist, some actions lie beyond the arithmetic of profit and loss. They are driven not by balance sheets, but by quiet deeds anchored in humanity.

In a country where access to quality medical services is still beyond the reach of many, Okoya’s intervention stands out as a statement of responsibility.

The responsibility catered to 1,500 residents who benefited from a free healthcare outreach organised to mark his 86th birthday.

The outreach, which started on Monday, January 5, will run till Monday, January 12, 2026, between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm at his estate, opposite Eleganza Bus Stop, along the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Lagos.

The medical outreach offered general medical consultations, blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar checks, HIV testing, urinalysis, eye screening, dental checks, breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screening, wellness guidance, health education, and medical referrals.

The medical intervention reflected a long-standing philosophy associated with the celebrant that success carries an obligation to uplift society.

“My own community comes first. That is why I said this (free medical outreach) is for my community first,” Okoya said at the opening ceremony.

Prostate cancer scare

For the industrialist, the decision to anchor his 86th birthday celebration on a medical outreach was deeply personal.

Having confronted prostate cancer, Okoya came to understand how fragile life can be and how critical timely access to healthcare is.

“I have been going in and out of it (health scare), and by the grace of God, I feel better. Health is wealth.

“For example, six years ago, I had a positive prostate cancer diagnosis. I presented early, and I had surgery. Today, I am happy and alive. That is why what (medical outreach) we are doing is very important,” Okoya, who is the Aare of Lagos, said.

A health website, Cleveland, described prostate cancer as a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system.

It added that it is a common cancer that can be serious if it spreads to other parts of the body.

Prostate cancer is recognised as the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men globally.

Worse still, black men around the world are at a much higher risk of having and dying from the disease.

The prostate cancer experience sharpened Okoya’s empathy for those who suffer in silence, unable to afford diagnosis or treatment.

According to him, it also reinforced his belief that survival should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy.

By turning his birthday into a platform for free medical care, the Eleganza chairman transformed a private health battle into a public act of compassion, using his milestone to give others a fighting chance at life.

Okoya said, “I believe I should extend what I have been enjoying to my community, so that everyone can know their health status and understand what is happening with them.

“Health is wealth. If you can detect a health problem early, then you will not have serious trouble.

“Knowing what to eat, what to drink, and how to manage your health, you can live well. By doing that, you can live 80 years, 100 years, or even more.”

Limited healthcare access

PUNCH Healthwise reports that the country’s healthcare system continues to grapple with several challenges that limit access for millions of Nigerians.

Public hospitals are overstretched, underfunded, and unevenly distributed, particularly at the primary healthcare level, where most preventable illnesses should be addressed.

Although the President Bola Tinubu-led administration recently approved and released N32.9bn through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund as part of efforts to focus on PHCs for Nigerians, much has not been achieved.

Findings show that shortages of medical personnel, frequent doctors’ strikes, infrastructure deficit, and high out-of-pocket spending have made basic healthcare a luxury for many households in Nigeria, especially among the poor and vulnerable.

These gaps, experts say, are most visible in delayed diagnoses and untreated conditions that worsen simply because patients cannot afford consultation fees, laboratory tests, or essential drugs.

They said these situations are allowing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancers to progress silently among poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

It is within this reality that interventions like free medical outreaches by philanthropists like Okoya play a critical stopgap role.

While they cannot replace systemic reform, such interventions help bridge urgent gaps, promote early detection, prevent the spread of diseases, and reduce maternal and child mortality, among others.

For decades, Okoya has remained a towering figure in Nigeria’s industrial landscape, building one of the country’s most recognisable business empires through resilience, foresight, and an uncommon understanding of local markets.

His entrepreneurial journey, often cited as a model of indigenous enterprise, has earned him respect across both commercial and philanthropic circles.

Beyond the factories and boardrooms, however, Okoya’s legacy has increasingly been defined by strategic acts of social interventions.

By choosing to commemorate his 86th birthday with a health-focused initiative, the business mogul reinforced the idea that milestones are best measured by the lives touched rather than the years counted.

Humane touch

The expansive hall was already filled with beneficiaries when our correspondent arrived at the venue for the free medical outreach.

Rows of chairs stretching across the polished floor beneath glittering chandeliers were already occupied by people who had come early to benefit from the services available at the outreach.

Most of those seated were elderly men and women, many quietly clutching registration slips and medical cards as they waited for their turn to be examined by health workers on the ground.

Volunteers and health workers, who gave the exercise an organised and structured feel, moved around the hall, coordinating activities and guiding beneficiaries.

The bright lighting, open windows, and orderly seating in the hall created a calm, almost ceremonial atmosphere, far removed from the congestion common in many health facilities.

Though held in a grand venue, the outreach underscored a simple reality for many beneficiaries: that free interventions remain their most reliable access to healthcare.

Aside from the free service they received, beneficiaries were fed and given N10,000 each for transportation back to their various destinations.

“The Chairman (Okoya) has approved N10,000 for every beneficiary as transport fare back to their homes. Everyone who completes the whole process will get the money,” the Coordinating Consultant for the outreach, Dr. Jemilade Longe, said while addressing the beneficiaries.

Speaking exclusively to our correspondent, Longe said more cases of non-communicable diseases.

“We are seeing cases of hypertension and diabetes more, but until we compile the records at the end of the outreach, we can’t be definite on what conditions people presented with most,” Longe said.

He added, “As of today (Thursday), we’ve attended to 800 people, and we are looking at about 1,500 for the whole outreach.”

The free medical outreach was more than a routine check-up for many of the beneficiaries; it was a turning point.

Outreach saved me from cervical cancer

Among them was a 38-year-old woman whose decision to participate in the screening may have altered the course of her life.

Like several others who attended the outreach, she had no pressing symptoms and no immediate plans to undergo specialised tests until the opportunity presented itself.

“I took the opportunity to do cervical cancer screening. Unfortunately, I was told that there is something that looks like it could develop into cervical cancer in the next ten years,” she told PUNCH Healthwise.

According to her, what could have gone unnoticed for years was flagged early, giving her a chance many women never get.

“They said it was detected early and that it is something that can be arrested. They explained that it affects the cells, and they immediately gave me medications and encouraged me,” the woman, who craved anonymity, said.

She said the medical team provided clear guidance on steps to take, adding that the instructions were detailed and reassuring.

“I was asked to abstain from sexual activity for six weeks. After six weeks, I am to do a follow-up check-up to see how the surface of that area is looking.

“They also told me that before the six weeks elapse, if I notice any blood spots or any foul-smelling discharge, I should report immediately to the hospital for a proper check-up,” she said.

Grateful and visibly relieved, she said she may have missed the warning signs if not for the outreach.

“I am really grateful for this opportunity. Imagine if I had not checked. I do not know when I would have decided to go and do this test on my own. Maybe I would have delayed it, and it could have been too late,” she added.

Pregnant woman gets reassurance

A pregnant woman, Sade Koku, who had been managing her health concerns quietly at home, told PUNCH Healthwise that the free medical outreach came as a timely intervention when options were limited.

Koku, who is a second-timer, said the outreach offered her the desperately needed reassurance that many expectant mothers always look up to.

“I have been unwell for a while and at home without money for a medical checkup. When I heard about the free medical outreach, I told myself I would be part of the first set of beneficiaries,” she said.

Her anxiety, she explained, stemmed from weeks of uncertainty about her condition and the well-being of her unborn child.

“I have been checked and told I’m fine, and I was educated on things I need to do and what not to do. I was encouraged to be consistent with my antenatal check-up,” Koku, who is in her second trimester, said.

In Nigeria, many pregnant women delay care due to cost.

According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria accounts for over 34 per cent of global maternal deaths.

The lifetime risk of dying during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, or after an abortion for a Nigerian woman is 1 in 22, compared to 1 in 4,900 in developed countries.

“Nigeria still accounts for approximately 14 per cent of global maternal deaths and nine per cent of global under-five deaths, despite representing only 2.6 per cent of the world’s population,” the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said in November 2025.

For Koku, the outreach was not just about free treatment, but an intervention that provided both guidance and confidence at a critical stage of her pregnancy.

Relief from medical costs

The outreach also offered rare relief from the financial strain of long-term treatment for elderly beneficiaries living with chronic conditions.

Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, 65-year-old Mrs Margaret Annele said the rising cost of medication had made managing her health increasingly difficult.

“I have been managing high blood pressure that has been compounded by body pain lately. The price of medicine for managing my BP has gone up, and that is why I am here,” she explained.

She noted that regular treatment had become a burden she could no longer shoulder alone.

According to her, the outreach provided continuity of care and temporary relief from costs that often force her to ration drugs.

“The doctors attended to me. I have undergone some tests. After my tuberculosis screening, I’ll go and get my test results and collect drugs,” she added.

Also, 62-year-old Mrs Iyabo Lateef said the outreach addressed multiple health concerns she had been unable to treat comprehensively.

She described the process as both thorough and relieving.

“I have many complaints about my eyes, dental, malaria, and other private matters. Drugs have been prescribed for me, and I will go and collect them at the pharmacy unit,” Lateef said.

She added that the medical investigations she underwent at the outreach would ordinarily have been far beyond her reach.

Lateef said, “I am waiting for my urinalysis result. I have undergone five tests. The outreach is beneficial to me. If I had gone to a medical facility, I would have paid more than N100,000 for all the tests I have undergone here.”

Lateef, who travelled from Ajiran to attend the programme, said the gesture resonated deeply with beneficiaries.

She said, “I came from Ajiran to this place, and we have all been praying to God to grant Okoya a long life and keep him in good health.”

The outreach also drew commendation from religious leaders, who described the initiative as both socially responsible and morally significant.

Speaking to PUNCH Healthwise, a beneficiary and religious leader, Imam Luqmon Junaid, said the gesture resonated deeply with the realities faced by many residents who struggle to afford basic medical care.

“He (Okoya) did something important for the community. What he did was also recognised in Islam. How many of us here can afford healthcare services?” the cleric said.

He lamented that access to care remains out of reach for a large segment of the population.

According to him, the intervention aligned with faith-based principles on social justice and compassion.

He stressed that such acts help to cushion the harsh effects of poverty on health.

“What he has done is part of what Allah sanctions. It is part of how the wealthy can support the poor and vulnerable,” Junaid added.

While commending Okoya for the outreach, the imam urged the Federal Government to ensure access to healthcare for the citizens.

“We urged the federal government to increase the health budget and equip PHCs serving the poor across the country,” he said.

Also speaking, another beneficiary and religious leader, Imam Rabiu Olatunji, described the outreach as a model of purposeful giving and urged other affluent individuals to emulate Okoya.

He said the resources committed to the programme underscored a deliberate choice to prioritise social impact over personal celebration.

“The money budgeted for this outreach is a lot, and we hope other wealthy muslims can emulate him because this is more rewarding than lavishing the money on entertainers or in ways that won’t benefit the poor and vulnerable,” the cleric said.

Olatunji, who came from Ogombo to benefit from the outreach, noted that the number of beneficiaries amplified the significance of the gesture.

“Look at the number of people who would benefit from the outreach. In Islam, this will be recorded as continuous charity and will accrue a reward for him even when he’s old and no more,” he added.

Olatunji stressed that the intervention eased costs that many families simply could not afford.

“Imagine the amount that would be spent if we had gone to the hospitals for these tests and consultations?” he asked.

Speaking with several health workers, our correspondent gathered that many people were screened for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer.

“Just today, four people were diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, and we’ve referred them to the general hospital for further tests,” a member of the medical team told PUNCH Healthwise.

At the pharmacy unit, our correspondent learnt that hypertensive drugs, antimalarial drugs, eye drops, and analgesics top the dispensed drugs at the outreach.

At the eye clinic section, several beneficiaries got free reading glasses, and those who need recommended glasses are referred to general hospitals.

Aside from laboratory tests, beneficiaries were sensitised at the family planning unit and encouraged to space their children as part of efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, while commodities were given to those who keyed into the programme.

Family promises continuity

Beyond the immediate relief provided by the medical outreach, the Okoya family says the initiative is designed to be sustained.

Speaking at the event, the wife of the business magnate, Shade Okoya, said the outreach was carefully planned to help people understand their health status and take informed steps toward better well-being.

“The Razaq Okoya at 86 Medical Outreach is something we deliberately decided to organise so that people can assess their health status and then take control from there.

“We plan to see about 150 people every day over the eight days. This is mainly for people within this community, so they can understand their health status and take the necessary steps to stay healthy,” she said.

She added that provisions were made for continuity of care beyond the outreach.

“Anyone with a serious medical condition will be referred from here to the clinics we are collaborating with. All referrals, treatments, and follow-up care will be taken care of by us,” Mrs Okoya said.

She described the initiative as part of the family’s broader social responsibility.

“This is part of our social responsibility, and it is something we intend to continue doing regularly. This outreach is just one of many social responsibility initiatives we are involved in.

“This outreach is a yearly programme, and we want people to know that at the beginning of every year, they can come here for free health checks and treatment if needed. This is what we are here to do, and we are committed to continuing it,” she added.

Also speaking, one of Okoya’s sons, Subomi, said the initiative reflects the family’s long-standing values.

He said, “It is a great initiative. Okoya has always been about the people. He believes in giving back, and he genuinely enjoys doing so. At Eleganza, we are always for the people. We started from the grassroots and built our way up to where we are today, so this initiative reflects who we are.”

Subomi said that the outreach would not end with the anniversary.

“This outreach will not be a one-off. It is something that will continue. Seeing vulnerable people relieved and receiving the help they need, it is truly fulfilling. People are leaving better than they came, and that alone makes it worthwhile. This medical outreach is an Eleganza initiative, and it is something we are proud of continuing,” he said.

LASG hails Okoya

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government described the outreach as a timely and impactful intervention that complements public healthcare efforts.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, said Okoya’s decision to mark his 86th birthday with a medical outreach underscored the importance of health to human wellbeing.

“To commemorate his 86th birthday, Chief Okoya thought it wise to extend a hand of health to the people. Health is wealth. You can have all the money in the world, but if your health is not good, if it is not right, or if you are not treating what is wrong with you, you will not enjoy that wealth,” Ogunyemi said.

She noted that partnerships with private individuals remain critical in bridging access gaps.

Ogunyemi said, “Governments cannot do it all. That is why we appreciate Chief Okoye for extending this to his community, especially to areas that sometimes we cannot reach.

“I want to say a very big thank you to Chief Okoye and his entire family, because this is not easy. Not everyone who has money is a philanthropist, and not everyone thinks about health. But he has done so, and it must never be taken for granted.”

Addressing beneficiaries at the outreach, she said that the value of the intervention extended beyond material support.

She said, “What he (Okoya) is giving you is more than money. It is more than food. It is more than jobs. He is allowing you to stay healthy, an opportunity to heal whatever may be wrong with you.”

Ogunyemi, however, urged the beneficiaries to enroll in the Lagos health insurance.

“I also want to use this opportunity to tell you about health insurance. There is something called ILERA EKO. You need to enrol. Everybody here should have ILERA EKO health insurance, so that when you go to the hospital, you will not be faced with huge bills because you are insured, just like life insurance or car insurance,” she said.