By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Mobolaji Ogunlende |
IKEJA, LAGOS — In a profound demonstration of social reform and human restoration, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has announced that 998 formerly destitute and mentally challenged persons have been successfully stabilized and reunited with their families.
The announcement, made by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, during the Year 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing at Alausa, Ikeja, highlighted the far-reaching impact of the state’s multi-tier rehabilitation networks. Marking seven years of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, the ministry laid bare its statistics, displaying a highly functioning social infrastructure aimed at transforming street-dependent individuals into productive citizens.
Restoring Dignity at Majidun and Owutu
Central to this sweeping humanitarian operation is the Rehabilitation Training Centre in Majidun, Ikorodu. The center caters specifically to beggars, destitutes, and mentally unstable individuals rescued from the urban sprawl of Lagos.
As of April 2026, the facility housed 1,295 active rehabilitees undergoing comprehensive therapy. Through the deliberate tracking efforts of the Ministry's Human Integration Unit, 998 individuals—including several foreign nationals from neighboring West African states like Ghana and Benin—were safely integrated back into their communities.
Concurrently, the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Owutu has turned its focus toward long-term economic independence. The center currently has 70 trainees fully enrolled in specialized vocational tracks.
Addressing the media, Commissioner Mobolaji Ogunlende stressed the holistic mindset of the state’s intervention policies:
"Rehabilitation is not just about taking vulnerable people off the streets; it is about rebuilding their psychological foundation, equipping them with self-sustaining skills, and safely connecting them back to their loved ones so they never return to the margins of society."
Overhauling Substance Abuse Recovery at Isheri
The state’s social safety network extended massive reforms to the Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre in Isheri, which specializes in the care of men recovering from acute drug and substance abuse.
Boosted by aggressive structural renovations funded by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), the center’s bed capacity effectively doubled from 60 to 120. The structural upgrade integrated a clean industrial borehole, solar-powered grid systems, fitness spaces, and modern vocational workshops.
Key Performance Indices: Lagos State Rehabilitation Matrix
Majidun Centre, Ikorodu, Street Rescue & Human Integration, 1,072 new admissions; 998 successfully reunited with families globally.
Owutu PWD Vocational Hub, Disability Empowerment, 70 active trainees; launched fully funded advanced scholarships in cosmetology.
Isheri Recovery Facility, Substance Abuse Rehabilitation, 145 new intakes; 90 certified fit for discharge; capacity increased by 100%.
Triumphs Over Addiction: From Rehabilitation to Higher Education
The real-world success metrics coming out of the Isheri facility challenge historic stigmas associated with substance dependency. Over the last reporting cycle, the center witnessed unprecedented academic and professional milestones from individuals who were once completely written off by society.
Academic Excellence: Four recovering rehabilitees sat for and successfully passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (JAMB).
University Graduation: One notable rehabilitee successfully completed his studies while under care, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Physics from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and is currently interning within the state ministry.
Corporate Integration: Another individual secured an active corporate role as a Personal Assistant to an airline CEO while finalizing his recovery program.
Peer Mentorship: Three fully discharged individuals were retained as temporary support staff within the facility, transforming their lived experiences into mentorship assets for new arrivals.
“Seeing a young man break free from severe drug addiction, sit for university exams, and graduate with a degree in Physics from a top institution proves that our methodologies are working,” Ogunlende added. “With start-up tools provided by COWLSO in barbing, tailoring, and digital repairs, we are turning historical burdens into absolute points of pride for their families.”