2,000 Persons to Benefit from Alake’s  80th Birthday Health Screening

James Sowole in Abeokuta

No fewer than 2,000 persons will benefit from the free health screening and treatment in commemoration of the 80th birthday of the paramount ruler of Egbaland and Alake, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

The screening and treatment will hold on September 11 and September12, 2023, at Alake Palace while free eye screening will take place on September 13 at the Centenary Hall. 

The health screening and treatment were part of activities highlighted at a news conference, where a week-long programme of activities marking the monarch’s birthday were unveiled.

The Chairman of the Alake 80th Birthday Planning Committee and the Aro of Egbaland, Chief Oluyinka Kufile, addressed journalists on the monarch’s health programmes to mark his birthday. 

He said patients would be screened, treated and given drugs while arrangements would be made for those that require surgeries at a later date. 

Kufile said specialists and general practitioners from teaching hospitals and advanced medical centres had been contacted for the health programmes that would be for all ages. 

Highlighting other programmes of the celebration, Kufile said chieftaincy investiture to recognise the contributions of eminent Egba sons and daughters and well-meaning individuals to Egbaland, Ogun State and Nigeria, would take place on September 8 and September 15, 2023 at Ake Palace.

Kufille said a major programme of interest to the celebrant is the turning of the sod and the foundation laying ceremony of the New Abeokuta City Hall.

He said in accordance with Alake’s belief that in seven years’ time, when the Abeokuta settlement marks 200 years, it would be befitting for the edifice to have been completed.

Other activities planned for Alake’s birthday are marathons race, book launch, traditional homages by clubs and associations and Christian and Islamic thanks giving services.

Kufile disclosed that adequate security arrangements had been made for all the programmes, saying all security agencies had been contacted for all events.