Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
The Patriarch Bolaji Methodist Cathedral Nigeria, Ita -Elewa in Ikorodu, has continued its outreach program for the less privileged members of the Church and those of the community in commemoration of the 2025 Christmas and Boxing Day.
At this year’s edition of the annual program which was the 19th edition, the Church fed and supported about 1000 beneficiaries with food and clothing items – rice, beans, garri, meat, sugar, salt and clothes among others.
It programme was themed, ‘Put a Smile Program’.
While 500 members of the Church got their own ratio on Xmas Day, members of the public were invited on Boxing Day.
Very Revd. John Olanrewaju Sholubi, Presbyter/Cathedral Administrator, Patriarch Bolaji Methodist Cathedral, Ita -Elewa, Ikorodu, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the gesture was in accordance with the dictate of Jesus Christ whose birth was being celebrated.
“Today is Boxing Day (December 26), and it is synonymous with the birth of Christ, which was celebrated on December 25, and as you know that the coming of Jesus is to give himself to the world for people to be liberated.
“People are usually under pressure, imprisoned and always in need and the only person that can liberate human beings is Jesus Christ and because he is a gift to the world, the Church, in accordance with the dictates of the Christ, is doing this annually by giving gifts to the less privileged. That is why we are giving them food items like rice, beans, garri, clothing items, shoes and whatever things that we can give”.
The man of God also stated that it is also part of the Church’s ways to support residents and also serve its host community.
“So, the Church has key into this as an annual event to alleviate poverty in our community. We distributed gifts to members of the Church on Christmas Day, while members of the public were being catered for today which is Boxing Day.
“About 500 residents are benefitting, and it is another way of serving God and humanity.
“We think that the Church must be relevant to the community. That is why we are doing this. Although, we preach eternity, but then, we must also associate with the community and serve the people, as we are serving the Church and God.
“Our community must not be abandoned. We must show that we love them and that we can be of help.”
In its message for Ikorodu residents during the yuletide season, Very Revd. Shonubi urged them to stay and profess positiveness always, for Ikorodu and Nigeria.
“My message to the people of Ikorodu is that they should focus on God, love God and love the community that they reside in and think positive of the country. They must always profess positive things towards the country and Ikorodu, “he said.
Olatoye Fajimi, Chairman of the planning committee, Put a Smile Program, emphasised that the initiative is part of the Church’s ways of giving back to the society and supporting the people.
“We have been running this program for about nineteen years now, and the aim is to share part of what God has given to members of the church, with other people – non -members.
“What we do is that every year, we raise funds; we ask people to donate rice, cows, and clothing which we put together and share to members of the society. It is our form of evangelism; to give out to them to ensure that during this festival season nobody is left out. We want to ensure that we share part of the grace and give to members of the society.
“For this year, our target number is about one thousand people. On Christmas day, we usually give out to the needy within the church. We gave out to about 500 hundred persons on Christmas day, and today which is the boxing day, we are also targeting about 500 hundred persons”, he said
Cathedral Secretary, Abolaji Oluwaseun Elesho, in his own remarks, said that the initiative is to ensure that people have something to live and smile during the festive period.
He charged residents of Ikorodu to celebrate responsibly and in ways that pleased the Lord which is being celebrated. He also urged young ones not to use the yuletide period to get high on drugs.
Elesho added that the season calls for sober reflection to analyse one’s live to know if he or she living a worthy one.
Mr Titiloye Omotayo, a resident of lkorodu, thanked the Church for the gifts and prayed for its progress.
A resident of Itunpate, Mrs Titi Rufai who said that she was coming for the second year to benefit from the Church’s gesture, said that the food items will go a long way in supporting her family for the season.
Mrs Iyabo Yakub from Aga, who is also coming for the second time, described the gesture as a way to support the less privileged, and not to make them go hungry, especially during the yuletide season.
