Awujale Seeks Govt’s Support on Provision of Health Amenities 

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Ogun State, Oba Sikiru Adetona, has challenged philanthropists, corporate and socio-cultural organisations not to leave provision of social services and amenities to government alone because it could not do it alone.

The First-class traditional ruler, therefore, called on socio-cultural clubs, to support the government in its quest to make life meaningful to the citizenry.

Awujale spoke at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art medical office building donated by the ‘Egbe Arobayo Obirin Akile Ijebu’ to the Ogun State General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, as part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary, of the socio-cultural club.

The one-storey building costing of N60m, housed the Out Patient Department (OPD) waiting arena, consulting offices, toilets and medical director’s office.

The building was also furnished with required gadgets, air conditioners and other hospital equipment.

The Awujale, represented by the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba AbdulrasaqAdenugba lauded the Ijebu age-grade for their selflessness and for heeding the clarion call to give back to the society.

Adetona said: “I must say that I am really impressed with the standard of this project executed by the Egbe Arobayo Obinrin to enhance qualitative healthcare delivery in Ijebu land and the state as a whole.

“This is good. It is a welcome development because it is a project that will further support government’s desire to improve on the health of its citizens. 

“I therefore appreciate this group for their love for humanity and I encourage other age grade groups too, public spirited individuals and corporate organisations to make worthy investment in efforts that are tailored towards making life much better for the society.”

The monarch commended leaders and members of the club for the donation adding that the project would increase access to healthcare.

Speaking at the event which took place within the hospital premises, the Iyalode of Egbe Arobayo Obirin Akile Ijebu, Alhaja Taiwo Odunosu, said the project would significantly enhance healthcare services in Ijebu-Ode and other communities around the town.

The leader and Iyalode of the group, Alhaja Taiwo Odumosu said the age grade usually called “Regberegbe” in Ijebu land decided to embark on the project to mark its 20th anniversary.

Odumosu said that the storey building came in handy for the outpatient of the hospital who usually have the challenge of having a comfortable place to stay while being attended to by the medical personnel.

She said: “With the construction of this building, we have been able to provide a comfortable place for the patients to receive care whenever they visit the hospital, the challenge of being drenched whenever it rains has become history”.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, represented by a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Wellington Ogunsanya, equally lauded the group for their thoughtfulness and partnership to support the state government in providing qualitative healthcare for the people.

Coker explained that it was a thing of joy to see the age-grade group following in the footsteps of so many others who had at also at one time or the other supported in strengthening the capacity of the hospital to serve the people much better.

The Commissioner pledged to ensure the proper utilisation of the project while also calling for more partnership with the state government in its determination to ensure that life is much more rewarding for its citizens

The General Secretary of the group, Mrs. Omotola Peter-Akrawa, said that the project cost the group nothing less than N60m.

Mrs. Peter-Akrawa said that the project was embarked upon based on the needs assessment carried out in the hospital.

She said: “The importance of this project lies in the fact it is the first contact between the hospital and the patient. It is for the use of the outpatient department, now the patients will no longer be exposed to harsh weather conditions or be beaten by rain when waiting to receive medical care”.