The traditional ruler of Igbaja in Kwara State, Oba Ahmed Babalola is hecstatic for being the beneficiary of a federal medical facility.
The royal father has in fact sent an appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the 40-bed Mother and Child hospital in the town, built by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
Babalola, known as the Elese, who spoke through the President of Igbaja Progressive Union, Pastor Oluwatoyin Alabi, also appreciated the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for facilitating the project.
“Today’s event is historical in many respects as it is the first project of its kind that will bring federal government presence to our community.
“We owe a huge gratitude to the minister who incidentally is a proud son of Igbaja and on many occasions has attested to the fact that Igbaja is his second home,” he said.
Babalola said the project would go a long way to combat infant and maternal mortality in the community and improve access to healthcare services.
The Elese said the location of the hospital would also bring relief not only to Igbaja, but the entire Irese land of Adanla, in Offa-Iresse, and other adjourning communities.
He also thanked Princess Orelope Adefulire, the Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, for executing the project and for her tireless roles in realising the United Nations goals through the length and breadth of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has thumbed his chest for attracting development projects to his political constituency.
Mohammed explained that he attracted developmental projects to his home town, Oro, because of his strong bond to the community and a common notion shared by the community members.
The minister disclosed that an average Oro man cannot consider himself successful until he has constructed a personal building in the town and contributed to the town’s development.
Mohammed spoke with reporters at the 2023 Oro Day Celebrations witnessed by prominent sons and daughters of the community.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that one of the major events of the celebration was the commissioning of a 80-bed Mother and Child Hospital, facilitated by the minister.
The hospital was built and equipped by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on SDGs just like the one at Igbaja.
Mohammed recalled that he facilitated the rehabilitation of township roads in Oro which was awarded and funded by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
He also listed the provision of solar- powered street lights in the community; a 60MVA, 132/33kV transmission substation with 5km turn-in-turn-out Offa-Omu-Aran 132kV double circuit transmission line built by the Federal Government through the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
NAN recalled that the substation contract was awarded in the sum of N3 billion local content and 8 million dollar (about N6 billion) foreign exchange.
The minister said he facilitated projects across the senatorial zones, namely the construction of the 40-bed Mother and Child hospital in Igbaja; construction of schools in Ajase-Ipo, roads in Isin Local Government Area, as well as water and roads projects in Oke-Ero LGA.
Others are roads and water projects to Offa and Omu-Aran towns as well as the construction of classrooms and installation of internet facilities to schools in Ilorin.
Mohammed, the Chief Host of the 2023 Oro Day, said the essence of the celebration was to raise funds for the community development, cultural propagation and revival and to keep the indigenes united.
Prof. Babatunde Bojuwoye, the National President of Oro community, recalled that the first Oro Day celebrations took place in 1976 and the proceeds from it was deployed to community development.
He said the fund realised then was used to tar the town’s major internal road, provide electricity supply with street lighting, construct and equip Oro General Hospital which was later handed to the state government in 1980.
The Professor of Medicine and Consultant Physician said the second Oro day celebrations took place in 2005.
He said during the celebrations, awards of various categories were presented to sons and daughters of Oro who had distinguished themselves and contributed to the development of the town.
Bojuwoye said the third in the series which was held recently, the proceeds from its fund raising would be deployed to the renovation of community centre, built by the community over 40 years back.
He said the fund would also be deployed for the construction of boreholes in strategic areas of the community.
The don said they also planned to use the fund to install solar-powered street light which the minister had already provided for the community.
