The Founder, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba (Dr) Olasubomi Balogun, has officially handed over a N5 billion Otunba Tunwase National Paediatrics Centre (OTNPC), Ijebu-Ode, to the management of the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital (UCH), for effective health cares services for children.
The handing over was held within the hospital premises located along the Ijebu-Ode and Benin Expressway, on Tuesday.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman, Otunba Tunwase Foundation, Mr Ladi Balogun, said the sole aim of the donor in establishing the centre was to provide world-class health care to Nigerians, especially children.
Balogun who is the Group Chief Executive, FCMB Group, noted that the decision by his father to hand over the hospital as a total gift to the two institutions was borne out of his desire to cater for the need of sick children and Nigerians alike.
He explained that a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involved the Otunba Tunwase Foundation, the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital, Ibadan, in October 2020.
“The inspiration by Otunba Olasubomi Balogun to build this great establishment was first inspired when he took over the children’s hospital at the UCH Ibadan, where he was exposed to the true plight of sick children and the high demand for a world-class medical facility to cater for their needs in a sustainable manner.
“As you are aware, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun is a well-known statesman, entrepreneur and philanthropist with several charitable projects and programmes for the need of his hometown of Ijebu-Ode, as well as other parts of Nigeria.
“Today’s event marks a significant milestone to a philanthropic project embarked upon 11 years ago with the sole objective of providing a world-class medical facility to Nigerians, especially children, by an individual who consistently craves for the social and economic development of his fatherland,” he said.
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In his remarks, the acting Vice-Chancellor, UI, Professor Adebola Ekanola, lauded the donor for the gesture, noting his contribution to the successful take-off of UI ventures which according to him had blossomed.
Ekanola represented by the Provost, College of Medicine, UI, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun, promised that the two institutions would collaborate to transform the Centre as the best in paediatrics in sub-Sahara Africa.
He said: “It is going to be a partnership project. UCH has so many hospitals that are doing well. This centre will be transformed.
“UCH will run the centre while UI will engage in research and academic works. Our undergraduates and postgraduates students will be trained at this centre for their clinicals. We are going to work in synergy to make the centre an excellent place.
The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, expressed appreciation to Otunba Balogun for the donation, saying the opportunity would afford the hospital to contribute to the well being of residents of Ijebu community, Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
He, therefore, called on wealthy Nigerians to consider healthcare a priority in their philanthropic activities, lamenting that UCH is facing quite a lot of challenges in the area of infrastructure.
The CMD also advised Nigerians to key into the National Health Insurance Scheme so as to enable them to have access to quality healthcare without straining so much to pay for services provided.
FCMB founder, Balogun, hands over N5bn paediatrics centre to UI, UCH
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