The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, supported the tough fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria by donating a modular motorised fumigator to the management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. The royal leader of the Yoruba Kingdom worldwide presented the donation in his palace, in Ile-Ife, yesterday.
His donation did not end in equipment but cash was also involved. He made a cash donation to the hospital for the construction of the ‘Wuraola Ogunwusi Cancer Chemotherapy Centre’ in memory of his late mother.
The gentle and amiable king commended the country’s healthcare workers for being resilient in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
He re-emphasised the imperativeness of spurring Nigeria’s hospital systems towards productivity, especially in cases of emergency. He revealed that his later mom served at the UCH for 42 and those who didn’t know the hospital used to be the best in Africa and beyond. He said the Saudi Arabia royal family and other prominent people globally had patronised UCH in the past.
He said: “Where did we miss it? We must, as a matter of public importance, come together and restore the lost glories of our healthcare sector. That is when we will have a lot to show as lessons from COVID-19.’’ Mama Wuraola Ogunwusi was a good woman, she built me and helped our entire lineage. She spent her whole life there and died there, I will never forget UCH. I am available and ready to assist the hospital to grow.” Ooni added.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Abiodun Otegbayo profusely thanked the Ooni for the timeous and kind gesture.
Ooni of Ife may have been in the eye of the storm lately on social media as his private life has been dragged into the mud but he remained undaunted in his quest to make a difference.
It is worthy of note that Ojaja II had restored Ife and Yoruba dignity by unearthing and celebrating ancient heritage long forgotten.
One of them is the creation of the command performance of Moremi the Musical, a story about love, faith, legacy, honour and the ultimate sacrifice of wife, mother, warrior as well as a symbol of the beauty of Queen Moremi Ajasoro of Ile-Ife.
