A Foundation, Abdul Samad Africa Initiative, has donated a sum of N2.5billion to Ogun State Government towards the construction of Mother and Child Unit at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
Penpushing reports that the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mr. Ubong Udoh, while presenting a cheque on behalf of the Foundation, at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, said the organization decided to partner the state as a result of its impressive efforts at repositioning the health sector through the renovation of Primary Health Centres and re-equiping other medical facilities across the state.
The Managing Director noted that health remained one of the most important sectors that cannot be ignored as it impacts on the generality of the people, adding that his organization, apart from health, also focuses on education and social development.
Penpushing further reports that, Udoh disclosed that, Ogun state is the fourth after Edo, Sokoto and Taraba to benefit from such initiative, explaining that the foundation does not decide what to do for a state, but all what the foundation does is sit down with them and they tell the organiosation what they want.
“We take geographical location into consideration. We have sited projects in four geographical areas of the country this year and the remaining two areas will get their turn next year”, Udoh stated.
Penpushing also reports that, he disclosed that Abdul Samad Africa Initiative has set aside a sum of N31billon to carry out life-changing initiatives in states and other African countries, saying that out of this amount, the sum of N19billion was set aside for the health sector.
The Managing Director on the yardstick for choosing the beneficiary states explained that the quality of vision of the state plays a huge role, declaring that Ogun state has quality visions as exemplified by the state government’s policies and programmes.
Penpushing reports that, Governor Dapo Abiodun while responding said the donation is the largest since the creation of the state 45 years ago, saying this is the kind of partnership the state values.
“These are the kind of relationships that we value and nurture. It is a clear testament of the successful creation of trust between our administration and the private sector, particularly in line with our vision which set out to create an enabling environment for the public private sector partnership’, he said.
“This administration is only about two years and five months in office; we are not the first administration in Ogun State; this state is forty-five years old, however, this state has not witnessed such level of public private partnership in the history of the state, something new is definitely happening in Ogun”. Abiodun said.
The Governor commended the organization for the donation and recalled how it supported the state during the height of coronavirus pandemic, especially when the state began the drive to increase its ambulances fleet, noting that when he assumed office, the state only had five ambulances.
Penpushing reports that, Abiodun reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritize the health sector through equipping and training of medical personnel, disclosing that the State Infectious Disease Hospital which remained moribund for a long time has been revived.
The Governor while calling on Nigerians to be vigilant as a new variant of coronavirus has been reported in different parts of the world, assured that the donation would be used for the purpose it was meant for, and further urged other corporate organizations to join the state in its efforts at bringing the needed succour to the people
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