All roads led to the Protea Hotel Ikeja GRA Lagos on Thursday 20th September 2012 when Livewell Initiative LWI turned 5 years old.

LWI, a self-sustaining nonprofit organisation which has outreached over 1.5 million nigerians including at least 400 physically challenged people, and over 3,000 ghanaians with health literacy and empowerment since its inception 5 years ago, was inaugurated by His Excellency the Governor of Lagos State, Gov Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, on September 20th 2007, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The LWI 5th Anniversary celebrations which kicked off at 10.30am at the Protea Hotel Ikeja, on 20th September 2012, was presided over by the Honorable Commissioner of Health, Lagos State, Dr Jide Idris through his proxy, the Honorable Permsec Health, Dr Femi Olugbile who, in his speech, commended LiveWell Initiative for ‘blazing the trail’ in the health sector.

The celebration tagged  ‘LWI-at-5!’ was marked symbolically by the launching of the new mobile health mobile money solution product  offered by LWI, tagged ‘easyhealth’….for easy health; as well as the Corporate Partnership Awards to outstanding corporate partners of LWI.

The Honorable Commissioner of Health described the launch of ‘easyhealth’ as a unique achievement by LWI in the area of healthcare. He said “…so much has been said about mobile healthcare in this country. Today, LiveWell Initiative has blazed the trail by going ahead to make it happen; Well done, LWI”.

Beneficiaries of the Corporate Awards were as follows:

LWI Corporate  Partnership Awards List

Best Corporate Member –  May & Baker Plc & Karrington Ltd

Best Academic  Partner – GSK Pharma West Africa / Babcock University Ilishan

Best  Diplomatic Sector Partner  – US Consulate General

Best  Partner,Pharmaceuticals – Vitabiotics Adler

Best  Private Sector Partner – Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc

Best ‘Wellness’ Partner –Banwo & Ighodalo B&I, Guaranty Trust Bank GTB Plc

Best  ’easyhealth’  Client – Mr Matthias  Udoka

Best Pro Bono Donors – T.H.GIRB,  Banwo & Ighodalo B&I, *Go2Gurl Ltd

Honorary Membership Awardees:

–          Gold – US Consulate General (Feb 2011)

–          Gold – West African Health Organisation WAHO (Apr 2012)

–          Executive – Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,CON  (Sep2012)

–          Student – Damilola Akomolafe (Jul 2012)

–          Student – Uju  Okafor (Jul 2012)

Award Winning LWI Officers (2008-date):

Damola Oladimeji (6x), Pharm Seun Oyemade (5x), Dr Patrick Okhue, Dr Wunmi Adekola (2x), Mrs Pat Osadebe, Pharm Solomon Idowu (5x), Ms Kemi Oni (USA), Dr Jumoke Koyejo(3x), Mr S.Babajide Ope (3x), Mrs Clara Umezulike, Mrs Susan Adebanjo, Dr Mutiat Ayeteru, Dr Ifadi Lawani,  Dapo Oluwole, Titilope Ogunbiyi (2x), Mr Andrew Osakwe, Tunrayo Oduwaiye, Niyi Fajimi, Dr Niyi Okunade

Award Winning Students / Interns:

Damilola  Akomolafe (LWI-USAID ), Uju Okafor (LWI-USAID), Bode Ishola, Tomi Odebo, Patrick Idowu

THE EVENT:

The event, majorly partnered by Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc,  was very well attended by corporates from all walks of life. The Awardee companies were also in attendance  as their top management staffers were on hand to receive the awards. Stanbic IBTC partners at the event, had a ‘double representation’ ; whereas the Head of mobile banking Mr Yinka Shorungbe  represented the CEO for the ‘easyhealth’ launch, the Head of  CSR Mrs Morin Adeyemi represented the CEO in collecting the ‘Best Private Sector Partner’  Award. Principal Partner  at Banwo & Ighodalo B& I, Mr Ken Etim, was on hand to receive the ‘Best Wellness Partner Award’ on behalf of his company, while  GSK Pharma West Africa sent a two-man delegation led by Mr Victor Erukunuakpor, Group Head Vaccines, to collect the ‘Best Academic Partner’ Award.  GTB Plc was represented by Group Head Training Mr Funso Tooki who collected the  shared ‘Best Wellness Partner’ Award while the ‘Best easyhealth Client’ Award was given to Mr Matthias Udoka, a textile trader at New Ojota Market. The ‘easyhealth’ mobile health product had been test-run by LWI since January 2012, prior to its launch on thursday September 20th 2012.

The event which was managed by G02Gurl Ltd (Event Solutions and TNEA Award Consultants), presented an opportunity  for LWI to showcase its highly intellectual, smart and proactive officers, among whom are over 20 doctors, ver 20 pharmacists, over 20 nurses, over 20 public health practitioners, and over 30 other professionals from all walks of life including the arts, and social sciences and at least 30 student members including the recent 2 LWI-USAID Awardees. LWI boasts of 4 first class degree holders, at least 20 Masters degree holders, and 8 full Alumni of the prestigous Lagos Business School and at least another 10 ex-attendees of LBS trainings. The organisation was able to showcase its culture through the presentation of its ‘LWI Anthem’ at the flagoff of the event on thursday 20th September during which time the LWI Team including the CEO Bisi Bright, rendered the organisation’s Anthem to the audience.

In a few presentations which followed, LWI Officers Pharm Solomon Idowu (Regional Manager North),  Damola Oladimeji (Senior Programme Officer Logistics & Accounts), Pharm Kike Tairu (Coordinator LWI Academy), and the LWI-USAID Awardee Damilola Akomolafe  took turns to present the organisation’s organogram, culture, and activities from 2007-date to the audience. This was followed by another presentation titled ‘LWI in 5 years’ Time: The Strategic Plan’; also taken in turns by LWI-USAID Awardee Uju Okafor and Programme Officers Dr Kemi Adeyemo, Dr Yemi Sanusi (Academy Officer LWIA),  Ibukun Odelola (Programme Officer Grants & Funding) and  Niyi Fajimi (Programme Officer Research & Surveillance).

Exhibitors at the event included Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc (Event Partners *909#),  May & Baker Plc, GSK Consumer, Oando Plc, Mimee Noodles and  MTN. Other corporate attendees included Pfizer Plc, Mobitel, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Eartholeum, Nuvox Communications, UPS, Ecobank, Adcem, and several friends of LWI.

The LWI website designers and pro bono donors T.H.GIRB  were on hand to receive their award. The company designed the LWI logo and has maintained and updated its website to date, at no cost. B& I endowed a Wellness Chair at the LWI Academy and GSK Pharma endowed an Immunisation Chair at the LWIA Faculty.

Goodwill messages were received from partners and affiliates who were unable to attend  including some Directors and Officers of LWI in Diaspora,  His Excellency the Executive Governor of Osun State Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, The US Consul General Mr Jeff Hawkins, USAID SHOPS  Chief of Party Mrs Ayo Iroko,  International Alliance of Patients’ Organisations IAPO, the Millenia2015 France, Covenant University Otta, Country Director Millenia2015, among others.

Some of the comments from the attendees are as follows;

… Mr Yinka Shorungbe , Head of Stanbic IBTC Mobile Banking, standing in for the organisation’s CEO Mrs Sola David-Borha,  commended LWI for the ‘easyhealth’ mobile health mobile money initiative and expressed the bank’s interest in working further with the initiative.

Mr Victor Erukunuakpor, Group Head Vaccines GSK Pharma West Africa: “It gladdens my heart to be here today to witness the LWI five-year anniversary and Corporate Awards Ceremony.We are proud to work with LWI and they have added great value to our work especially in the area of capacity development and facilitation of immunisation services. Congratulations, LWI. We promise to continue to work with the organisation and support its projects”

Mr Funso Tooki, Group Head Training GTB Plc who represented the Managing Director Mr Segun Agbaje, expressed the appreciation of the bank, for the award.

Karrington Ltd, Corporate members of LWI, sent a high powered delegation led by a Director Mr Gbolahan and Group Head HR, Mrs Ntinu. The companys spokesman, Mr Sola Jesuseitan, expressed immense appreciation of the award on behalf of the Group CEO Mr Kunle Adeshina.

Prof G.N.D. Ajah, Head od Department of Public & Allied Health Babcock University Ilishan,  said ” Thank you for the award…The VC was very pleased. It means so much to us”….

Oando Plc, also partners at the event, presented 5 O-Gas cylinders with cooking plate, to LWI through Mr Sam Onyenwe, Head of Community Relations. The Oando Plc Team was led by the Group Head Acquisition, Mr Seyi Adeleye representing the Group MD/CEO; and Mr Adebiyi, Business Development Manager.  During the presentation , Mr Onyenwe  said ‘This presentation is only a token of our partnership with LWI. O-Gas is an eco-friendly and healthy solution for all Nigerians. It will help to keep our people healthy, safe, and protected against toxic effusions and de-forestation.

The new mobile health product ‘easyhealth’ was thereafter launched by the Honorable Commissioner of Health, Lagos State; to the Glory of God.Henceforth,the public should please access the new ‘home healthcare service’, called ‘easyhealth’ by sending a wallet to 2348023284144. All queries should please be directed to 08023284144 or 07041442634-37.

Thank you All, for making the ‘LWI-at-5!’ a very successful event.

God Bless you All.