In a show of uncommon philanthropic gesture, renowned banker and philanthropist, Otunba (Dr) Olasubomi Balogun CON has handed over the multi million naira Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre to the University of Ibadan.
The hospital, situated on a 50 acre piece of land along the Sagamu-Benin Express way, Ijebu Ode, was built in 1994 to commemorate the 60th birthday of the benefactor. It has since been upgraded to a tertiary referral center for teaching, research and health care delivery for infants and children.
According to the benefactor, the the Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre was his own gift to the Nation.
 |
As at the time of the formal handing over to the University of Ibadan, close to Three Billion Naira had been invested on facilities and other overhead costs to make the Centre the biggest individual philanthropic initiative in the health sector.
The Center which has various facilities including accommodation for both student and resident Doctors, 10 incubators, two bore holes, operating theater units among others was handed over to the University of Ibadan in the benefactor’s belief that it would better be utilized by the beneficiary. Otunba Olasubomi Balogun noted that the University’s culture of excellence was enough to give him the assurance that the Center would be better utilized.
|
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan Prof. I.F. Adewole commended Otunba Balogun for the gesture and promised that the University and the University College Hospital would make the best use of the Centre. He described the donation as one of the biggest and the largest donations since UI was established in 1948. Prof. Adewole urged other well meaning Nigerians to embrace the culture of philanthropy which he said would go a long way to assist public institutions
