Olubadan pledges Free Land Boost Healthcare in Ibadan

…As monarch says the gesture is aimed at attracting more healthcare investments, reaching medical tourism among Nigerians

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has pledged to make some of his landed properties available free of charge to the government or non-governmental organisations willing to invest in upgrading healthcare delivery in Ibadan and its environs.

Oba Ladoja made the pledge on Monday when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, paid him a courtesy visit at the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.

The ministers were in Ibadan to commission modern medical diagnostic and other healthcare facilities at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The Olubadan, who is also the Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, commended the healthcare intervention of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the initiative would help restore the lost glory of the nation’s healthcare system.

He recalled the past achievements of UCH, Ibadan, saying the hospital had abundant human resources but lacked the modern medical equipment required to operate at a world-class standard.

Oba Ladoja said he felt embarrassed as a Nigerian when one of the country’s prominent statesmen was recently featured in an advertisement promoting medical tourism at an Asian hospital.

According to him, the provision of modern medical equipment and facilities would reduce medical tourism among Nigerians and discourage the migration of highly skilled doctors and other medical professionals.

The monarch challenged the management of UCH, led by Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, to work towards restoring the hospital to its former glory, recalling that the institution was once regarded as one of the five best teaching hospitals in the British Commonwealth.

Oba Ladoja also disclosed that before the arrival of the two ministers, he and members of the Olubadan Advisory Council had received officials from the Ministry of Power, who informed them about plans to flag off a 17.7-megawatt electricity grid project expected to benefit five communities in Oyo State, including Ibadan.

He said he had encouraged the officials to bring more development projects to the state, assuring them that the Olubadan-in-Council was ready to provide land where necessary.

The monarch, who noted that he was 82 years old, said his major concern was to contribute to the development and wellbeing of Ibadan residents.

He added that he would take advantage of his access to the ministers to draw their attention to areas requiring government intervention whenever necessary.

Earlier, Prof. Oyedele explained that the ministers were in Ibadan to commission Phase One of the Advanced Medical Services under the Medserve Expansion Programme, being implemented through the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

He disclosed that the first facility under the programme was commissioned in Bauchi earlier on Monday, while the second commissioning brought the delegation to Ibadan.

Also speaking, Prof. Pate said Phase One of the medical expansion programme comprises 10 modern medical diagnostic centres, two oncology centres and two catheterisation laboratories distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The initiative, he said, was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and improving access to advanced medical services.