Metro
CULLED FROM NEWSHEREANDTHERE MAGAZINE
Critical stakeholders in the country have showered praises and commendations on the Legal luminary,Chief Wole Olanipekun over his efforts in health care development which they described as significant to humanity.
The appreciation came recently at the unveiling of the New Cruse Mother and Child Maternity Complex in Ikere-Ekiti,established and donated to the public by the legal icon.
The stakeholders comprised the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare , Muhammad Ali Pate, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Southwest Governors and other prominent Nigerians. They all showered encomium on Olanipekun, for donating an ultramodern Mother and Child Maternity Complex to the State Specialist Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti, described the gesture as a landmark contribution to healthcare delivery and nation-building.
The donor, Olanipekun used the occasion to call on well meaning individuals both at home and in diaspora to invest in the country for positive impacts
The legal icon also at Amoye Grammar School, commissioned a new ICT digital centre which he said replaced an earlier ICT facility he provided in 2007 that was partially damaged during the rehabilitation of the Akure–Ikere–Ado Road, adding that the rebuilt hub was bigger, more resilient and fitted to global standards.
Commissioning the health project, former Governor of Osun State and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande, described Olanipekun as a man whose greatness transcends titles, wealth and professional accomplishments.
Akande said the legal luminary had distinguished himself not only in the legal profession but also in service to humanity and community development.
He noted that Olanipekun had over the years invested in churches, libraries, educational facilities and now healthcare infrastructure, stressing that the maternity complex would remain an enduring investment in humanity.
“Patriotism is not merely about political positions or public acclaim. It is about responsibility to humanity. It is about remembering where one comes from. It is about understanding that success becomes meaningful only when it improves the lives of others.
“This clinic is not merely a building; it is hope for the sick, dignity for the vulnerable, reassurance for families and proof that nation-building can begin from one institution, one community and one patriotic citizen.”
The facility, known as the NewCruse Mother and Child Maternity Complex, after the commissioning was officially handed over to the Ekiti State Government.
Speaking at the ceremony, Muhammad Ali Pate, described the project as a symbol of compassion, patriotism and shared responsibility towards the wellbeing of Nigerians, especially women and children.
Pate, represented by the Chief Medical Director of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Professor Kolawole Ogundipe, said the donation aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen maternal and child healthcare across the country.
According to him, the facility represents a significant contribution to the Federal Government’s objectives of reducing maternal and child mortality and improving access to quality healthcare services.
He commended Olanipekun for an extraordinary gesture of philanthropy, noting that the senior lawyer had consistently invested in education, healthcare and community development through the Wole Olanipekun Foundation.
Pate also called on wealthy Nigerians, corporate organisations and development partners to emulate the gesture by supporting healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment procurement and community health initiatives.
His words, “Chief Olanipekun remains a philanthropist who bestride the Nigerian space as he has endowed numerous scholarships, donated many educational and health facilities as well as instituted empowerment initiatives and various acts of community development through the Wole Olanipekun Foundation. This latest donation is in furtherance of what Chief Olanipekun has come to be known for.
“Maternal and child health remains one of the critical priorities of this administration. Across the nation, we continue to has access to quality antenatal care, safe delivery services, emergency obstetric strengthen healthcare delivery systems to ensure that every pregnant woman care, immunization, nutrition support, and comprehensive healthcare for newborns and children.
“Similarly, the Ministry has continued to track Maternal and Under-5 morbidity and mortality in BHCPF facilities nationwide with the aim to drastically reduce the incidence of these vital health indices by addressing the root causes as assessed at facility and community level.
“This Mother and Child Complex represents a significant contribution to these national objectives. It will not only expand access to quality healthcare services but will also improve maternal and child outcomes, reduce avoidable deaths and provide a more dignified and conducive environment for patients and healthcare workers alike”.
Ondo State governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described the project as ‘philanthropy at its best’, saying the NewCruse Mother and Child Complex represented the revolution Nigeria needs.
He praised Olanipekun and his family for the remarkable intervention in healthcare delivery, adding that the project would have a lasting impact beyond Ekiti State.
“This is philanthropy at its best, practical, targeted and life-saving. It is the revolution that we need in Nigeria; not the revolution of slogans and armchair criticisms, but the revolution of responsibility, where the lawyer builds clinics, the trader funds schools, the engineer fixes roads and government becomes the enabler, not the sole actor”.
Commissioning the project, former Governor of Osun State and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande, described Olanipekun as a man whose greatness transcends titles, wealth and professional accomplishments.
Akande said the legal luminary had distinguished himself not only in the legal profession but also in service to humanity and community development.
He noted that Olanipekun had over the years invested in churches, libraries, educational facilities and now healthcare infrastructure, stressing that the maternity complex would remain an enduring investment in humanity.
“Patriotism is not merely about political positions or public acclaim. It is about responsibility to humanity. It is about remembering where one comes from. It is about understanding that success becomes meaningful only when it improves the lives of others.
“This clinic is not merely a building; it is hope for the sick, dignity for the vulnerable, reassurance for families and proof that nation-building can begin from one institution, one community and one patriotic citizen,” Akande added.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi specifically poured royal blessings on Olanipekun and extolled his contributions to humanity and national development, describing the senior advocate as a special breed and blessing to humanity.
He said there was a need for Nigerian universities and scholars to undertake extensive research on elder statesmen like Olanipekun whose lives exemplify leadership, professionalism and philanthropy.
In his remarks, Wole Olanipekun stressed the importance of sacrifice and service in leadership, saying true leadership is not about what leaders can take from society but what they can give back.
The legal icon reflected on his contributions to the political and legal development of Ikere-Ekiti and urged residents and political leaders to work collectively for the progress of the community.
Olanipekun also expressed concern over the growing apathy among community stakeholders towards collective development efforts, urging residents to become more actively involved in advancing the fortunes of Ikere-Ekiti.
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji described the legal luminary as a benefactor, father figure and one of the greatest ambassadors of Ekiti State.
His words, “Kabiyesi referred to you as an illustrious son of Ekiti. Yes, you were born here, but you belong to humanity because all over the state and all over the country, we see your footprints.
“We cannot develop Ekiti without coming home. Our people need help. God has helped us so that we can help others. If you are successful and you are not positively impacting society, then there is a question mark on such success.
“There is no way you come through Ikere that you will not see Chief’s footprints. If you come through Ado, you will see his impact. If you go to the university, you see the Senate Building. You see his donations to the Nigerian Bar Association, churches, hospitals and other institutions all over Ekiti.
“When the fullness of time comes and we stand before our Maker, and He asks us what we did with all the blessings He gave us, what will we say?”, Oyebanji admonished.