The Oyo State Government has successfully concluded the 2025 edition of its Omituntun Free Health Mission, a statewide initiative designed to provide free and comprehensive healthcare services to residents, including civil servants, pensioners, people living with disabilities, and underserved communities.

Speaking at the final phase of the outreach on Tuesday, held at the Secretariat in Ibadan for government workers, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, affirmed that the programme reached citizens across all 33 local government areas of the state.

She explained that three extra days were specially designated for priority groups:

Saturday for people with disabilities at Oluyole Cheshire Home

Monday for retirees at the Pensioners’ House

Tuesday for public and civil servants at the state secretariat

“The free health mission has given thousands of residents, including government staff, pensioners, people with disabilities, and underserved communities, access to free and comprehensive healthcare services,” Dr. Ajetunmobi said.

She described the initiative as a life-saving intervention carried out under the visionary Omituntun 2.0 agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde, which prioritises the wellbeing of citizens through health equity and accessibility.

According to the Commissioner, the free health services delivered include:

General medical consultations

Minor surgeries such as hernia repairs

Oral and dental care

Eye examinations and surgeries

Physiotherapy

Breast and cervical cancer screenings

Chest X-rays for individuals with persistent cough

Full laboratory investigations

Free dispensing of drugs

“All of these were offered completely free of charge,” she stated, adding that patients requiring follow-up or extended care were referred to the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA).

Dr. Ajetunmobi also highlighted the government’s intentional approach to include civil servants who may not have been available during the earlier phases of the outreach in their respective local government areas.

“We know many of our civil servants are busy at work and may not have been able to visit the mobile health teams in their local governments. That’s why we brought the outreach directly to them,” she explained.

Participants, particularly government workers, commended the Oyo State Government for the unprecedented level of care and inclusiveness. Many praised Governor Seyi Makinde for prioritizing their welfare and called for a worthy successor who would sustain and improve on his legacy.

…Men open up on vulnerability, self-care and emotional healing in special episode themed “Cultivating the Garden Within”

In a timely and heartfelt tribute to Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Mindfully with Tunmise, a podcast hosted by Oluwatunmise Oladapo-Kuku, delivered a compelling special episode titled “Cultivating the Garden Within,” aimed at breaking the silence around men’s emotional well-being.

The session, which brought together male voices from various walks of life, explored how men can begin to reconnect with their mental and emotional health in a society that often suppresses their vulnerability.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the session, Oladapo-Kuku, who is also the founder and lead at Blackhemages Media Concept—explained that the podcast “seeks to demystify the narratives around mental health and also to destigmatize conversations around mental health and ill health.”

She said the theme, Cultivating the Garden Within, represents a journey of emotional alignment.

“It’s about cultivating the seeds that your heart takes from the environment, from relationships, from the stories of origin—to weed out the ones that don’t serve and nurture the ones that do,” Oladapo-Kuku said.

Though she typically hosts the podcast herself, Oladapo-Kuku chose to step aside for the special episode, offering the microphone to male participants.

“I’m not a man, so it would be easier for men to have conversations. I just gave them this platform,” she explained.

This initiative follows the podcast’s tradition of supporting men’s mental health, aligning with the global Movember Movement, which raises awareness about men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate cancer.

“Last year, Mindfully with Tunmise had an only-men’s conference to wrap up the Movember movement,” Oladapo-Kuku noted. “It was so satisfying that we are planning a second edition this year.”

The special episode also ties into the podcast’s Fight for Life project, a recurring event that takes place annually on the last Saturday of November. The 2025 edition is scheduled for November 29.

Personal Stories of Emotional Growth

The recording featured raw reflections from participants who shared what “cultivating the garden within” meant in their personal lives.

Oluwaseun Dawodu likened the mind to a garden that needs intentional care and nurturing.

“A garden is just a piece of land that with intentionality, we can get the best out of. If you want joy, happiness, or peace, then you must be intentional about planting those seeds,” he said.

Dawodu also urged men to be proactive about their health and wellness.

“Men should just take care of themselves. They are usually the ones who will know something is wrong and do absolutely nothing about it until it becomes critical.”

He highlighted the need to identify signs of stress and open up about emotional struggles.

“You feel burnt out, but you don’t know it. Learn to start sharing with people who care. Not everyone will understand because they may have gone through it and survived, but that doesn’t mean you should suffer in silence.”

Another speaker, Oluwakorede Peter Omopeloye, described the process as embracing peace and reducing stress through intentional living.

“Since I began this journey over three or four years ago, I’ve had less tummy aches, which means less stress. Your happiness is just controlled by you,” he shared.

“I have put checks and balances in place for my mental health,” he concluded.

Sustained Advocacy for Emotional Well-Being

This episode is part of Blackhemages Media Concept’s broader mission to create safe and inclusive spaces for transformative conversations. Through Mindfully with Tunmise, the brand continues to advocate for emotional wellness, mental clarity, and dismantling the stigma around vulnerability—especially for men.

For Oladapo-Kuku, giving voice to often-silenced issues is not just a podcast goal—it’s a personal and professional mission.

QS Abdul Azeez Awesu Adekunle has announced plans to expand his healthcare intervention outreach for elderly residents in Ikorodu Central, targeting wards G, B, and A, specifically Agura-Iponmi and Lowa, before July 4, 2025.

The initiative follows a recent successful outreach held in Obun Ale, Ward E, where over 150 elderly beneficiaries received free medical services.

Speaking on the motive behind the programme, Awesu emphasized continuity and inclusiveness:

“This is not the only one we will be doing. There is still going to be about two to three more activities we will embark on in various wards in Ikorodu Central. This is just one of them—more to come.”

He detailed the medical interventions carried out during the Obun Ale outreach:

“We had series of tests—urinary analysis, malaria, and a whole lot. They met with a doctor, they had consultations with the doctor to examine the result of their tests. Some of them have been referred for further diagnosis, while for some we buy drugs and take it up from there.”

Awesu, who is also a local government aspirant in the forthcoming Lagos State elections, reiterated his commitment to grassroots development:

“We feel if we want to do anything, let us start from home, that is why we are here today. We plan to have three outreaches—this is just the first one. We are still going to Agura-Iponmi, that is Ward G, and by July 4, we will be having another one in Lowa, Ward A and B.”

In reference to his political readiness, he added:

“The name Awesu is a household name in Ikorodu. There is no place you go in Ikorodu and people don’t know Awesu. We are practically on ground. We have our councilors in each of the wards. Old women and old men benefitted. Charity begins at home; this is why we are starting from here.”

As Awesu gears up for both civic impact and political engagement, his healthcare drive continues to earn public goodwill across Ikorodu Central.