The family of the late Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Adeyemi, has handed over a newly constructed, multi-million naira healthcare facility donated by Chief Tunde Afolabi to the Osun State Government.
The commissioning and official handover of the project, named Princess Gbemisola Specialist Treatment Centre, took place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the State Hospital in Ikirun.
Representing the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Commissioner for Health, Barrister Jola Akintola, expressed gratitude to the donor and the family for their generosity and commitment to public welfare.
Governor Adeleke noted that the fully equipped, state-of-the-art facility will significantly enhance the quality of healthcare services available to the people of Osun, particularly by providing specialized treatment.
He assured the public of proper maintenance of the facility and prayed for continued progress in the endeavors of the donor and his family.
Speaking with AMILOADED, Professor Sunday Owolabi described the project as a magnificent structure and a rare achievement in the state.
Prof. Owolabi explained that the idea for the facility began during the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of efforts by the Adeyemi family to bless the community with an intensive care unit. He appreciated the royal family for their heavy investment in the project.
Commenting on why many people avoid community hospitals, Prof. Owolabi cited factors such as lack of personnel, inadequate equipment, and insufficient drugs. However, he assured that with the commissioning of the modern facility, Ikirun residents would be encouraged to patronize the government hospital.
In his remarks, Dr. S.A. Olaniyan, who spoke on behalf of the family of the late Oba Adeyemi in Ikirun and Chief Afolabi in Ibadan, said the construction of the facility was a bold and proactive step to address any future reoccurrence of a COVID-19-like outbreak.
Dr. Olaniyan confirmed that the ₦250 million facility, which includes a 23-bed unit, computer monitoring systems, solar-powered air conditioning, and an adequate water supply, was donated solely for the benefit of the Ikirun community and its environs, at no cost to the government.
He appealed to the state government to ensure proper maintenance of the centre for its long-term sustainability. He also noted that the families would be willing to convert the facility into an internationally recognized centre if the state government upgrades the State Hospital to a teaching hospital in the future.
Dr. Olaniyan also called on sons and daughters of Ikirun, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, to support government efforts by donating additional facilities, both physical structures and medical equipment, to the hospital.
Addressing journalists, the President of the National Ikirun Progressive Union, Alhaji Mustapha Adeleke Olawuyi, affirmed that the modern equipment at the centre would make healthcare more accessible and reliable for the people.
Alhaji Olawuyi described the project as a major milestone for Ikirun, Osun State, and the country. He emphasized the need for adequate staffing and security to ensure effective use of the facility.
He further noted that the equipment in the facility is compliant with Artificial Intelligence (AI) standards and appealed to residents to patronize the hospital, pointing out that healthcare services at the state hospital are nearly free. He urged the public to support the project and other ongoing developments in Ikirun.
The commissioning and handover event was attended by Ikirun chiefs, religious leaders, indigenes, and well-wishers.
