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Hundreds of residents of the Ojoo community in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State on Saturday benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Nigerian Army as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
The humanitarian exercise, held in Ibadan, featured medical consultations, laboratory investigations, physiotherapy, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, dental services, eye screening, health education, treatment of common ailments, and the distribution of free medications.
The outreach forms part of community engagement programmes lined up to commemorate the Nigerian Army’s 163rd anniversary under the theme, “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward for the Nigerian Army.”
Speaking during the exercise, the Chief of Staff, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Modupe Falana, who represented the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife, said the initiative was organised to appreciate the support and cooperation the Army enjoys from host communities.
Falana said the Nigerian Army remained committed not only to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity but also to promoting the welfare of citizens through humanitarian interventions.
“As you are aware, the Nigerian Army is 163 years old, and we are marking that anniversary. This medical outreach is one of the programmes organised for the Nigerian Army Day Celebration. It is our way of giving back to society,” he said.
He noted that the Ojoo community was selected as a beneficiary to demonstrate the Army’s appreciation for public support.
“We felt it was important to appreciate the people by bringing this intervention to the Ojoo community. It is a demonstration of our gratitude for the support we receive from members of the public and another opportunity to strengthen the cordial relationship between the Nigerian Army and the civilian population,” he added.
Falana stressed that community support remains indispensable to the Army’s operational success, noting that sustainable security can only be achieved through mutual trust and collaboration between security agencies and the people.
Also speaking, the Commander, 2 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Brig.-Gen. Moses Azuoru, said the outreach was designed to improve access to quality healthcare for residents of neighbouring communities.
He explained that a team of doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other healthcare professionals was deployed to provide comprehensive medical services free of charge.
“As part of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration, we have packaged this medical outreach for our neighbouring civilian communities. Many of them do not have easy access to healthcare, so we came here today to provide the medical intervention they need,” Azuoru said.
“Today, we have enough medical personnel and equipment to provide consultations, dental care and several other healthcare services. We believe the outcome of this intervention will positively impact many residents of the Ojoo community.”
According to him, the initiative reflects the Nigerian Army’s belief that national security goes beyond military operations to include the health and wellbeing of citizens.
He expressed confidence that such humanitarian programmes would further strengthen civil-military relations and deepen public confidence in the Armed Forces.
Beneficiaries commended the Nigerian Army for the initiative, describing it as timely, particularly in view of the rising cost of healthcare.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Pascalina Ahmed, said the outreach brought much-needed relief to many families.
“I am grateful to the Nigerian Army for remembering people like us. Many residents cannot easily afford medical treatment because of the high cost of healthcare. Today, we received free consultations, medications and other treatments. This programme has really helped us, and we pray the Army continues to organise more of such outreaches,” she said.
Many residents were attended to by Army medical personnel during the exercise, while others received dental care, laboratory tests, eye screening and health counselling.
The Nigerian Army Day Celebration is an annual event commemorating the establishment, sacrifices and achievements of the Nigerian Army. In addition to military ceremonies, the celebration features humanitarian programmes, public engagements, lectures, sporting activities and strategic defence forums aimed at promoting professionalism, strengthening civil-military relations and enhancing national security.
This year’s celebration, themed “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward for the Nigerian Army,” underscores the Army’s commitment to fostering stronger partnerships with communities while sustaining its constitutional responsibility of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and supporting national development.
The Ibadan medical outreach is one of several humanitarian activities being carried out nationwide as part of the week-long NADCEL 2026 celebrations.
