By Wale Ojo-Lanre Esq
This timeless truth captures the essence of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s philosophy, now widely celebrated as BAOISM—a creed of governance anchored on the wellbeing of the people. For BAO, health is not just an agenda; it is a philosophy, a guiding principle that sees the citizen’s vitality as the foundation for productivity, happiness, and sustainable development. Just as BAOISM redefines governance as humility in power and unity in diversity, it equally embodies the belief that a healthy people make a strong state.
Under Governor Oyebanji, Ekiti State has become a model of people-centered healthcare transformation. Beyond his impacts on roads , BAO has proven that physical infrastructure alone cannot carry the weight of progress unless balanced by investment in human health and wellness. His administration has, therefore, written a remarkable chapter in Ekiti’s healthcare history, a testimony to his vision of a state where no one is left behind.
To translate this vision into reality, BAO made a strategic appointment by bringing on board Dr. Oyebanji Filani, a young, dynamic medical doctor with a fine blend of clinical training and health economics expertise, as Commissioner for Health and Human Services. An alumnus of the University of Lagos with advanced training in Health Economics and Policy from the University of Birmingham, Dr. Filani has worked in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, lending his expertise to health financing and policy reforms. Today, he also serves as Chairperson of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum, shaping national health governance. His appointment reflects BAO’s wisdom in matching vision with competence, ensuring that Ekiti’s health sector receives both innovative thinking and practical leadership.
The renovation of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state has restored confidence in community-level healthcare, ensuring that even the most rural dwellers have access to modern medical attention. With solar inverters installed in these PHCs, uninterrupted power supply now supports critical care delivery. At the apex of training the next generation of healthcare providers, construction is ongoing at the College of Nursing, Ado Ekiti, where a 700-capacity lecture theatre and a 250-capacity ICT building are rising as monuments to a future of excellence.
BAOISM in action is also evident in the fight against malaria. Over 90,000 pregnant women across the state have received free preventive drugs, over 600,000 free tests have been conducted, and more than 500,000 doses of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) have been provided to those with confirmed malaria. This deliberate assault on one of Africa’s most stubborn killers reflects a leadership that values life as the ultimate asset.
The Ulerawa scheme further amplifies this philosophy by delivering quality care services to all Ekiti residents, while the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme has extended free, comprehensive healthcare to 19,000 pensioners who once bore the burden of medical neglect. Even more inspiring is the provision of free medical surgeries to 3,722 beneficiaries, with procedures ranging from life-saving cesarean sections and cataract removals to hysterectomies and hernia repairs.
Governor Oyebanji’s compassion extends to society’s most vulnerable. Through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), sickle cell warriors, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and the indigent are receiving the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services—an unprecedented show of inclusivity in state health policy. These are not mere statistics but stories of lives restored, of families given hope, and of futures made possible.
The administration has also completed a Pharmagrade drug store for the Drug Management Agency, ensuring a reliable supply of quality medicines, while 250 health workers—doctors, nurses, and community officers—have been employed to strengthen the workforce. At Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), an 80-bed multipurpose medical building is under construction, further boosting tertiary healthcare capacity in the state.
All these achievements speak not just to governance, but to philosophy—BAOISM as health in action. It is a philosophy that sees governance not as an abstract pursuit of power but as a moral duty to secure the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of citizens. BAO has redefined leadership as stewardship of life, making Ekiti a beacon of people-centered progress.
In truth, BAOISM has shown that a healthy citizenry is the greatest wealth of a state. And as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver.” Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has proven this wisdom right by investing in what truly matters—the health and happiness of the Ekiti people.