At the event were Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, and the First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.

The carol service was organised by the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Lagos State House in Ikeja.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi, charged Christians to spread love not only during the Yuletide, but throughout the whole year, and emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ as demonstrated in his humility and service to humanity.

Elegushi said, “Today, as I warmly welcome you all to the 16th edition of the Christmas Carol of Nine Lessons, I want to encourage us to rejoice and appreciate the faithfulness of God in our lives and in Lagos State as we proceed with the programme, with the assurance that Year 2023, being an election year, will usher in more dividends of democracy to all.

“We are in celebration mode towards the Christmas and New Year celebrations, and I wish to implore us all to keep safe and be our brothers’ keeper and continue to uphold our dear country, Nigeria, in prayers.

“The theme of this year’s Christmas carol of nine lessons is: ‘A stone of grace,’ as stated in Proverbs 17:8. We are all products and recipients of God’s grace and this season teaches us to extend our hands of generosity and brotherliness towards mankind.”

Elegushi further stated that the end of the year was a period of sober reflection and a time to take stock of all activities from the beginning of the year in order to express gratitude to God for his divine intervention in the state

The Governor’s wife, while speaking at the programme tagged, “Free Medical Mission on Cardiovascular Health in Adults and Dental Health Treatment for Children,” also advised them to refrain from “unhealthy choices” such as drug abuse, according to a statement on Wednesday.

The programme was organised by the James Omolaja Odunmbaku Foundation for the residents of Ogba in the Ojodu LCDA.

Sanwo-Olu explained that unhealthy lifestyle choices such as the intake of unwholesome food, lack of regular exercise, smoking and lack of regular medical checkup could increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases in adults.

She said the initiative which saw the screening of residents for heart-related diseases was in line with the recently inaugurated Lagos State Health Insurance.

Speaking on the health insurance scheme, she said it would increase residents’ access to health care services, including primary and selected secondary health care services.

The founder of James Omolaja Odunmbaku Foundation, Cardinal James Odunbaku, explained that the health mission, which is in collaboration with the National Sports Lottery Foundation, was a way of providing free screening for residents and bringing health-related issues to the front burner for urgent attention.

The Chairman of the Ojodu LCDA, Mr Julius Oloro, while commending the state government and the James Omolaja Odunmbaku Foundation for their efforts at reducing the trend, noted that cardiovascular diseases had been the leading cause of death among residents of the state.