A team from the Presidency led by the Director, Hospital services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh has commended the pace of work at the permanent site of the Teaching Hospital being constructed as a key component of the College of Health Sciences of the Federal University of Technology, Akure FUTA. Jimoh and members of his team who were in Akure at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were joined for the working visit to the site of the Teaching Hospital and the temporary facilities provided by state government for the take-off of the clinical services by the Management of FUTA led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji and a team from the Ondo State government led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olubanji Ajaka .
Jimoh expressed his delight at the progress and speed of work at the sites. According to him the rate of development at the permanent site is quite impressive. He said with structures like the twin 300 and 600 capacity auditoriums, clinical sciences building, health centers as well as block of classrooms nearing completion it is indicative that with the support of the community, TETFUND and State government the dream of establishing of Teaching Hospital to serve the FUTA College of Health Sciences will soon become a reality. He also commended the State government for its willingness to allow the use of the State’s University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Akure for the commencement of clinical services and studies for students pending the completion .
Dr Jimoh said his team is mandated to inspect the temporary structure provided by the state government to be able to identify the gap in establishing a model Federal Tertiary Hospital with the mind of filling the gap for the subsequent taking over of personnel and provision of equipment that will aid the training of Medical Students.
In her reaction, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji said she feels elated with the state of responsiveness from both the federal and state governments to the needs of the people. Professor Oladiji stated that the State government and FUTA-Akure Partnership are doing everything possible to see the takeoff of the permanent site. She expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his personal interest in the timely completion of the FUTA Teaching Hospital and the working visit of Dr Jimoh at the behest of the President has further validated this. She reiterated that the project is part of Federal government effort to train personnel who will be capable to solve the health problems in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the State Government, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Olubanji Ajaka said Ondo state is all about building collaborations with partners in progress, partners such as FUTA and Federal Government. Ajaka noted that the FUTA project wont only benefit FUTA students but the whole indigenes of Ondo State and other Nigerians. He said once clinical training commences at proposed Ondo State Hospital, trainings of Students and eventually manpower training will commence which in no time will increase revenue earnings for the state, better and improved health care facility, and a reduced rate of unemployment.
The Chairman FUTA-Akure partnership, Dr Olufemi Oyinsan commended the dogged spirit of Professor Adenike Oladiji describing her as a humble leader and a goal getter. He thanked the State government for their cooperation and also thanked the Federal government for seeing the need to establish a University Teaching Hospital in Akure. He assured that Akure community will not take their benevolence for granted and the project will further actualize the Nigeria dream.
After the onsite inspection the team also paid a courtesy call on the Deji of Akure Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Adelusi. The traditional ruler assured the team from the presidency that the position of the monarch and the people of Akure Kingdom regarding the teaching hospital remain firm and resolute. The Royal father confirmed to the team that all issues relating to documentation of the 200 hectares of land for the Teaching Hospital have been resolved. He said, “There is no encumbrances of any kind. We have adequately compensated the owners of the said land. No one can lay any claim in the future to the land. Be free to ask any thing regarding the progress of the project. You have royal backing and support.”
The team from Abuja included the Senior Technical Adviser to the Coordinating Minister of Health, Dr. Saidu Ahmed; the Director, Human Relations, Mrs. Tetshoma Dafeta and Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Ejembi Felix.