Ogun gets N2.5b boost for mother, child hospital

• To Construct Ilishan-Ago-Iwoye Road As 100-bed Hospital Berths In Iperu
Effort of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to improve and revamp the state healthcare service has received a boost as a Foundation, Abdul Samad Africa Initiative, donated N2.5b towards the construction of Mother and Child Unit at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

Presenting a cheque on behalf of the Foundation at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ubong Udoh, said the organisation decided to partner the state, due to its impressive efforts at repositioning the health sector through renovation of primary health centres and re-equipping other medical facilities across Ogun.

And in the face of all the positive development, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said construction work would commence on the Ilishan-Ago-Iwoye Road by the first quarter of next year.

Abiodun, who stated this at this year’s Akesan Day celebration, held at the Iperu Civic Centre, in Ikenne Local Government Area, also stated that the Iperu-Ilishan Road would be dualised to serve the Agro-Cargo Airport in the area.

While pointing out that the occasion was to celebrate the rich culture of the town, Prince Abiodun said a 100-bed hospital, under the Sustainable Development Goals in the Presidency, a National Automobile Training Centre and an Integrated Farm Centre, would also be based in the area.

Udoh had noted that health remained one of the most important sectors that cannot be ignored, as it impacts on the generality of the people. He added that his organisation, aside health, also focuses on education and social development.

According to him, Ogun is the fourth state after Edo, Sokoto and Taraba to benefit from such initiative, saying, “we do not decide what to do for a state. All we do is sit down with them and they tell us what they want. We take geographical location into consideration. We have sited projects in four geographical areas of the country this year and the remaining two areas will get their turn next year.”

On the yardstick for choosing beneficiary states, Udoh explained that a state’s quality of vision plays a huge role, declaring that Ogun has quality visions, as exemplified by the state government’s policies and programmes.

Responding, Governor Abiodun said the donation is the largest since the creation of the state 45 years ago.

He said: “These are the kind of relationships that we value and nurture. It is a clear testament of the successful creation of trust between our administration and the private sector, particularly in line with our vision, which set out to create an enabling environment for the public private sector partnership…”

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising the health sector through equipping and training of medical personnel, disclosing that the State Infectious Disease Hospital, which remained moribund for a long time has been revived.