Oyebanji hails Airline for donating health centre, solar-powered borehole to Ekiti community

The Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has hailed United Nigeria Airlines for donating a primary healthcare centre and a solar-powered borehole to Aso-Ayegunle community in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Speaking while commissioning the project, Oyebanji commended the Executive Chairman of the airline, Professor Okonkwo, and its management and staff for the gesture, describing it as a valuable contribution to healthcare delivery and community development.

He explained that the donation aligned with his administration’s commitment to ensuring that residents, irrespective of their location, had access to quality and affordable primary healthcare.

He said the centre would bring essential medical services closer to residents, particularly pregnant women and children, through antenatal and postnatal care, immunisation and treatment of common illnesses before they developed into emergencies.

“A building alone does not treat anybody. I therefore charge the community to take ownership of this facility, protect it and use it well,” he said.

Oyebanji assured the residents that the state government would ensure the centre is properly staffed, equipped and supplied with essential medical consumables to support effective service delivery.

He also urged the health workers expected to serve at the facility to demonstrate diligence, compassion and professionalism in attending to patients.

The Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, said the airline’s donation is part of its commitment to giving back to the people and deepening its partnership with the state.

Okonkwo spoke on Monday during the official inauguration of the facilities, explaining that the projects were conceived as a corporate social responsibility initiative, following the airline’s business engagements with the state and its appreciation of the support received from Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration.

He said the decision to provide the facilities followed the airline’s annual retreat in Ekiti in January, during which members of its management team resolved to leave a lasting mark in the community rather than conclude their visit without making a meaningful contribution.

According to him, the airline deliberately consulted the state government to identify the community’s most pressing needs instead of imposing projects that might not address the residents’ priorities.

“We asked what the community needed, and we were told that access to water was a challenge and that a primary healthcare centre would also be beneficial. We decided to provide both because they were important to the people,” he said.

Okonkwo commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for the speed with which the state government facilitated the initiative, describing the cooperation between the airline and the administration as an example of an effective public-private partnership.

He recalled that within 48 hours of discussions on the proposed projects, the governor had approved the necessary support, while the foundation stone was laid before the airline’s delegation left the state after its retreat in February.

The airline chairman attributed the gesture partly to the warm reception and cooperation the company had enjoyed in Ekiti, particularly during the establishment and commencement of operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.

He praised Oyebanji for sustaining the airport project initiated by his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, describing the governor’s decision to continue the project as evidence of the importance of policy continuity in governance.

According to him, the airline’s relationship with Ekiti went beyond commercial considerations, adding that the state’s cooperation had strengthened the company’s resolve to contribute to the wellbeing of its residents.

The chairman disclosed that the airline is also working towards developing its cargo operations to support Ekiti’s agricultural economy and facilitate the movement of farm produce to wider markets.

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Okonkwo further disclosed that the company ensured that residents of Aso-Ayegunle were given opportunities to participate in the construction of the facilities, provided they possessed the necessary skills.

He said about 90 per cent of the work on the projects was handled by people from the community, stressing that local participation was essential to ensuring that residents directly benefited from development initiatives.

“This is not the end of our relationship with this community. We are not handing over the keys and walking away. We will continue to assess the impact of these projects and explore other ways of supporting the people when additional needs arise,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the community, Prince Peter Falade commended the gesture from the airline, describing it as precious gifts that would add greater value to the community.

“You did not just begin operations at the airport and leave us. You have given us two great gifts: a health centre to heal our people and a solar-powered borehole to give us clean water. You have shown that you are a company with a human heart,” he said.