Ogun State Government says special attention will be given to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, even as it charges the new board to think outside the box for solution to the myriad of problems facing the tertiary health institution.
“I expect you to be innovative and adaptive. In fact, you may have to make bricks without straws. You may have to think not just outside the box, but in fact without the box”, Governor Dapo Abiodun said while inauguration the new Board of the Teaching Hospital at his office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
He noted that the board’s role include ensuring that OOUTH “plays its role as a leading research, medical training Institution as well as a first class hospital in the country”.
Gov Abiodun said his administration’s determination to return the institution back to its glorious days made it imperative to inaugurate the 12-member board, four years after it became moribund.
“The inauguration of this Governing Council is another symbolic representation of our Administration commitment to place OOUTH on a firm and solid ground towards returning OOUTH to its glory and ensuring that it remains the pride of all of us by continuing to fulfil the dreams of the founding fathers.
“OOUTH is not just an institution of higher learning but also a research, medical training and healthcare facility. While I will restate that all our educational institutions will receive their due attention from our Administration, OOUTH will receive a special attention because of these combined responsibilities”, he noted.
Abiodun, who recalled the precarious situation the hospital was in, some months ago, expressed happiness that his government has been able to resolve most of the issues that led to the dwindling fortunes of the institution, saying, “OOUTH is a baby that must live and stand shoulder with her contemporaries across the globe”.
While describing the Council members as men and women of unimpeachable integrity and of sound footing with diverse wealth of experience and wisdom, the Governor pointed out that the administration has invested the future of human capital development in health care, research and provided scholarship on them.
He reminding the board members that they are coming at a time in the history of medicine when the world is ravaged by Covid-19, HIV/AIDS, Ebola and other unknown ailment that should not defy solution with people like them.
“It is now our job to ensure that OOUTH will henceforth produce quality medical professionals that will be the signpost of Ogun State just like our forefathers in medical practice have done”, the Governor advised.
In his remark, renowned ophthalmologist and the chairman of the Council, Dr. Adekunle Hassan, noted that though the task ahead was a huge, with the calibre of hands on deck, the council would surmount any difficulties.
Hassan expressed confidence that the council would make a difference by repositioning the health institution to continue giving adequate medical training and rendering first class healthcare services to the people.
Also on the the Governing Council with Dr. Adekunle Hassan are Dr. (Mrs.) Bisola Shodipo-Clark, , Lekan Asuni, Mr. Solu Abimbola, Dr. Peter Adefuye, Chief Medical Director, OOUTH; Prof. Tola Olatunji, Provost, College of Health Sciences (OOUTH); Prof. Adediwura Fred Jaiyesimi, representative of Senate (OOU).
Others are; Prof. Ayodeji Johnson Agboola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (OOU); Dr. (Mrs) Bunmi Fatungase Chair, Medical Advisory Council (OOUTH); Dr. Oluwole. O. Kukoyi, representing Nigeria Medical Association (NMA); Mr. Sammy Ogunjimi, representing the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Dr. Solomon O. Sokunbi, Deputy Director, Hospital Services, Ministry of Health.
