Alumni help for alma mater in Nigeria has a wealthy historical past relationship again to the Forties and Sixties. Within the entrance row are College Faculty Ibadan Alumni Affiliation established in 1948 to advertise college growth and the College of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Affiliation based in 1960 to help college progress.
After independence, we had the Obafemi Awolowo College Alumni Affiliation established in 1962 to foster university-community engagement and the College of Lagos Alumni Affiliation which got here to start in 1965 to help college growth.
It was subsequently not shocking when the Class of 1989 not too long ago donated medical tools in extra of 1,000,000 {dollars} to the College Faculty Hospital, Ibadan (UCH), in help of fantastic healthcare supply on the hospital. The donors graduated from the Faculty of Medication on the nation’s premier college.
This beneficiant donation, facilitated by Venture C.U.R.E., an NGO that collects and donates hospital tools to growing international locations, consists of specialised beds, clutches, hospital consumables, and cellular ultrasound machines.
Class President, Dr. Olatunji Akintilo, disclosed that the donation was impressed by a website go to in February 2020 to determine the wants of the hospital. Regardless of going through challenges in clearance on the ports, the container arrived at UCH not too long ago.
Certainly, the donation demonstrates the dedication of the Faculty of Medication, College of Ibadan alumni to enhancing healthcare supply in Nigeria. Let’s recall that in 2022, Phillip Ozuah, a professor of paediatrics primarily based in America, pledged $1 million to the Faculty of Medication, College of Ibadan in help of efforts to offer the scholars a befitting hostel lodging.
Again to the roots after commencement about 4 a long time in the past, Ozuah delivered a keynote tackle titled: “From Initiative to Finishative – An Tutorial Journey” the place he accepted to be the chief fundraiser for the scholars’ hostel mission on the Faculty.
Data point out that when Ozuah graduated from UI in 1985, he went on to accumulate two distinct grasp’s levels. He earned a grasp’s diploma in schooling from the College of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in academic management and administration from the College of Nebraska, Lincoln. He accomplished his pediatric internship and residency at Einstein and Montefiore, and his postdoctoral fellowship in medical schooling on the College of Southern California Faculty of Medication, Los Angeles.
The President, Class of 1989, Dr Olatunji Akintilo, represented by Professor Mojisola Talabi, defined that the gesture started as a dream and a imaginative and prescient to help UCH to proceed to be the centre of excellence for healthcare supply in Nigeria.
“On account of the positioning go to and different protocols, a container filled with the donated hospital tools was shipped from the U.S. and arrived in Lagos in October 2021. Nonetheless, we had issues with the Nigerian Customs to clear the container.
“We have been informed to pay a heavy clearance payment, and the container went into demurrage. Issues appeared unattainable. We virtually gave up, however ultimately, we overcame the palaver. We have been capable of clear the container. It lastly arrived at UCH. We belief and imagine that each merchandise will likely be put to good use,” mentioned Talabi who introduced the donated gadgets together with different members of the category, together with Professor Fatia Fehintola, Prof Taiwo Lawal, Dr Joko Adeleye and Dr Deborah Ajayi
The Chief Medical Director at UCH, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo described the gesture as the one largest donation acquired throughout his tenure. He emphasised that the donation will help sufferers unable to pay their payments and supply backed care to these in want.
“I’m ecstatic in regards to the donation. That is the one largest donation that we now have acquired on the College Faculty Hospital for the reason that graduation of this administration. And the second motive I’m ecstatic is as a result of it has been executed by my class set of 1989, the MBBS class of the College of Ibadan.
“After I took over as chief medical director, the management of my class, the set of 1989 MBBS, informed me that I ought to allow them to know no matter space of want that my administration would require, and they might are available. And this isn’t their first donation.” Otegbayo acknowledged that the donation would go a protracted approach to help sufferers on the hospital who have been unable to pay their payments.
“We will leverage what has been donated and use it for such sufferers who’re indigent. And in different methods, we are able to additionally use a few of the tools or the consumables at a subsidised price, even for individuals who have some cash. By doing that, many sufferers who would in any other case have suffered a scarcity of therapy or insufficient therapy may have the most effective of care.
“And I wish to pledge on behalf of the administration of the College Faculty Hospital and the Ministry of Well being, below the management of Professor Mohamed Ali Patti, that we are going to make good use of it. And the influence will likely be widespread on all our sufferers that require help,” mentioned Otegbayo.
