By Destiny Obinna
Residents of Ibadan, Oyo State, are benefiting from free medical and surgical services under the 2026 edition of UBOMI, the flagship healthcare intervention of Pistis Foundation, the social intervention vehicle of The Elevation Church.
The five-day outreach, which began on Monday, September 21, at Pistis Hub, Ibadan, is targeting 5,000 beneficiaries and marks the first time UBOMI is being taken outside Lagos since its inception.
Speaking at the official opening of the outreach on Tuesday, September 22, Executive Director of Pistis Foundation, Leonard F. Thomas, said the decision to bring the programme to Ibadan was driven by the need to bridge gaps in access to quality healthcare among economically disadvantaged people.
Thomas said: “UBOMI is in its 10th year, and this is the first time we are taking it outside Lagos and the first time in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. We believe healthcare is a necessity for everyone, but we also believe that not everyone can afford quality healthcare.
“It is not that they do not want it, but accessing it is not affordable for them. With UBOMI, we have come to close the gap by providing quality healthcare to people who cannot afford it, at no cost to them.”
He said the foundation’s partners and supporters had continued to sustain the initiative, adding that its expansion to Ibadan was part of plans to extend UBOMI to more communities across the country.
“We are excited with the turnout in Ibadan, and we believe that we can meet the health needs of over 5,000 people before we hold the Lagos edition next month,” Thomas said.
The Founder and Executive Director of Pro-Health International, Dr Iko Ibanga, whose organisation has served as UBOMI’s technical partner for six years, said the programme had provided various surgical interventions, including hernia, eye, fibroid and dental surgeries.
According to him, UBOMI also provides medical care for beneficiaries with other health needs.
“We believe this programme has impacted tremendously on individuals and communities. Coming to Ibadan for the first time is a step forward for UBOMI, and we are glad that we have been able to perform surgeries with a 99 per cent success rate in the last six years,” Ibanga said.
Resident Pastor of The Elevation Church, Ibadan, Pastor Oluwaseun Afolayan, said the initiative was inspired by the Christian teaching of loving one’s neighbour, stressing that it was open to beneficiaries irrespective of their religious affiliation.
“This programme is for all faiths, regardless of religion, because our watchword as a church is to meet the health needs of all people without focusing on a particular group,” Afolayan said.
“It is not political, and since we started on Monday, people of various faiths have benefited and are still benefiting from UBOMI. We hope this will become a continuous initiative for the people of Oyo State. It is open to everybody and comes at no cost.”
The Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Adewumi Ajetunmobi, commended The Elevation Church for bringing the outreach to Ibadan and reaffirmed the state government’s support for initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare.
She also urged individuals and organisations to emulate the initiative by supporting efforts to address the healthcare needs of residents.
Since its establishment, UBOMI has delivered 48,706 verified medical interventions, with the organisers reporting a 99 per cent surgical success rate.
Services offered under the programme include medical consultations, diagnostic investigations, pharmaceutical support, dental and eye care, general and specialist surgical procedures, health education and other healthcare services, all provided at no cost to beneficiaries.
The 2026 edition is being delivered in partnership with The Elevation Church in Ibadan and Lagos, Pro-Health International as technical partner, and Zenithcare Hospital, Oyo State, as medical institutional partner.
Pistis Foundation, established in 2018, is the social intervention vehicle of The Elevation Church, focusing on health, education and shelter for vulnerable communities.
Godman Akinlabi is the Founder and Board Chair of the foundation, while UBOMI remains its flagship health initiative aimed at improving access to quality healthcare for underserved communities.
