Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday said he would support the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) to achieve its humanitarian goals.

Mr Sanwo-Olu made the pledge during an event organised by the NRCS, Lagos Branch.

The event has the theme: ‘Investiture of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Platinum Members/Patrons’.

Mr Sanwo-Olu received the award of a patron of the NRCS during the event.

Other recipients of awards and induction as platinum members include Bisi Fayemi, Dr Jide Idris, Dr Abayomi Finnih, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Bintu Tinubu and Elizabeth Alonge.

The governor, who was represented by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said he was grateful for the activities of the Red Cross.

“We cannot do it all. Thank God for organisations like the Red Cross.

“We are proud of the Nigerian Red Cross,” he said.

Commending the other awardees, he said the calibre of people awarded patrons and platinum members was a testament that there was hope for Nigeria.

“These are people that don’t look for government contracts, they don’t need us to do anything for them in government but they’re giving back to the society in no small measure,” he said.

Jide Idris, former Lagos commissioner for health, said he enjoyed the support of the Red Cross while in office.

“At this time in our country, this is when we need the Red Cross the most.

“We’re talking of human security, health security, all require humanitarian services and this is the time for us to leverage this,” he said.

Mr Idris pledged to support NRCS by leveraging his strength, expertise and networks.

Also, wife to the former Governor of Ekiti State, Bisi Fayemi, who also received an award of recognition for Innovative Leadership Style, vowed to be a worthy member of the society and pledged her support to do whatever she could to help NRCS.

The Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, Abiola Dosumu, while commending the NRCS for its humanitarian services urged the society to always remain in the frontline during disaster response.

Ms Dosumu assured the society that all the awardees would work together to support the Red Cross.

The Lagos state chairman of NRCS, Adebola Kolawole, said the society looked forward to learning from the wealth of experience of the awardees.

Ms Kolawole was hopeful that the society would enjoy the goodwill of the recipients, which would help the NRCS achieve its humanitarian goals.

Ms Kolawole called on philanthropists and corporate organisations to partner with the Red Cross to provide humanitarian services, including disaster response, community first aid, motherless and abandoned babies and psychosocial support.

(NAN)