The founder of FCMB Group, Chief Olasubomi Balogun, has donated his Otunba Tunwase National Pediatrics Centre in Ijebu Ode to University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The N5bn centre, now to be managed by the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, is expected to help improve health care delivery for children in Ijebu Ode and other parts of the country.

Group Chief Executive and Chairman of Board, Otunba Tunwase Foundation, Mr Ladi Balogun, who represented his father, described the facility as a gift to the UCH and the university.

Balogun said the handover was a follow-up to the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that involved the Otunba Tunwase Foundation, the University of Ibadan and University College Hospital on October 2020 in Lagos.

The gesture, he noted, marked a significant milestone in a philanthropic project embarked upon 11 years ago, with the sole objective of providing a world-class medical facility to Nigerians, especially children.

He stated that at the end of its construction, some institutions requested to manage the hospital.

He, however, noted that his father believes that the university and the UCH were in a better position to manage it effectively, considering their respective pedigrees.

Balogun expressed optimism that with the partnership, the institution would contribute to the general wellbeing of Nigerians and serve as a symbol of possibilities for all those hoping to achieve greatness and give back to their fatherland.

He said, “Following the signing of the MoU last year by all the concerned parties, the resolution is that while the University College Hospital (UCH) has been mandated to provide clinical services, the University of Ibadan (UI) will engage in research and other academic works, while students from UI would also be involved as part of the training.”

He added that the resolution was that while the UCH had been mandated to provide clinical services, the university would engage in research and other academic works while students from the UI would also be involved as part of the training.

He said, “Otunba Olasubomi Balogun is a well-known statesman, entrepreneur and philanthropist with several charitable projects and programmes for the people of his hometown of Ijebu-Ode, as well as other parts of Nigeria.

“His philanthropy ranges from the provision of this world-class medical facility to education, capacity building, youth empowerment and other socio-economic initiatives, aimed at enhancing the development of humanity and society in general.” he said.

The Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, lbadan, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, commended Balogun for establishing the facility in Ijebu Ode and for donating it to the UCH to enhance quality healthcare delivery to the people.

He promised that the institution would sustain the high-level healthcare services being provided at the main hospital in Ibadan.

Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebola Ekanola, represented by the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, assured the gathering that the facility would be transformed into the best paediatrics hospital in the sub-Saharan Africa.