Ogun traditional ruler to establish charity in memory of his late spouse at OOUTH

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The Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, has announced plans to establish a foundation at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in memory of his late wife, Dr Linga Ajayi.

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The monarch made the disclosure on Thursday in Sagamu during the inauguration of the Dr David Mada Secretariat, a purpose-built facility commissioned by the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, Remo Zone.

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According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday, Ajayi, who was installed as Grand Patron of the association at the event, said the proposed foundation would honour his wife’s legacy in medicine and service.

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“Dr Linga Ajayi was a Consultant Surgeon at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, trained at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and served with distinction until her passing.

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“I will institute a project at OOUTH in her memory to continue her commitment to healthcare and training,” the monarch said.

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Dr Linga Ajayi died in February 2018 after a protracted illness.

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She was a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College Nigeria, the West African Postgraduate Medical College, and the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

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Ajayi also commended the Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr Bunmi Fatungase, for her leadership of the institution.

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“I must commend Dr Fatungase for her work at OOUTH. She is, in my view, the best CMD the institution has ever had,” he said, pledging continued royal support for collaboration between public and private healthcare providers in Remoland.

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The ANPMP Remo Zone made history at the event as the first zone in Nigeria to own a purpose-built secretariat.

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Zonal Chairman, Dr Taiwo Akintoye, said the project, conceived over 30 years ago, was realised in less than two years through member contributions and a building levy introduced into the zone’s annual dues.

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“The idea was mooted over 30 years ago when meetings were held at Molaroid Hotel. It lay dormant until about three years ago when Prof. Jagun Edward suggested using our depreciating bank funds to acquire land,” Akintoye said.

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He said the secretariat would serve as a meeting space, a venue for revenue-generating events, a gathering point for elderly members, and a base for medical outreach to underserved communities such as Ewu Oliwo.

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Akintoye also recalled that the index COVID-19 case in Ogun State in 2020 was first treated at Owokoniran Memorial Hospital, an ANPMP facility, before being transferred to OOUTH, and that gunshot victims from a recent Sagamu cult clash were treated at a member’s facility.

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The zone, with nearly 60 financial members, also launched its “Serving the Unserved and Underserved Communities in Remoland” initiative to extend private healthcare to rural areas beyond Sagamu, Arepo, Magboro, Ibafo and Mowe.

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Fatungase, in her goodwill message, stressed the need for public-private partnership in healthcare, while the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, represented at the event, urged closer collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

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The Gbegande of Ososa, Oba Toye Alatishe, said he was delighted that many doctors he had known early in his life remained active in service.

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Awards were presented at the event to Ajayi and posthumously to late Dr Adesina Wilde, for pioneering private practice in Ogun State. Otunba S.K. Onafowokan, Chairman of Coleman Wire and Cable, was installed as Patron.

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