Adebayo Adenrele
... as Ooni, S’west Govs, others hail Legal Icon for erecting Maternity Complex in Ekiti
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has said the newly donated NewCruse Mother and Child Maternity Complex in Ikere-Ekiti donated by Legal Luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN will significantly contribute to reducing maternal and child mortality rates in Nigeria.
The Minister stated this on Tuesday during the commissioning and handover of the ultramodern maternity facility donated by renowned legal icon to the Ekiti State Government at the State Specialist Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti.
Pate, represented by the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Professor Kolawole Ogundipe, described the project as a symbol of compassion, patriotism and shared responsibility towards the wellbeing of Nigerians, particularly women and children.
According to him, the donation aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening maternal and child healthcare services and improving access to quality medical care across the country.
Pate praised Olanipekun for the extraordinary act of philanthropy, noting that the senior advocate had continually invested in critical sectors such as education, healthcare and community development through the Wole Olanipekun Foundation.
He also urged affluent Nigerians, corporate organisations and development partners to emulate the gesture by supporting healthcare infrastructure development, provision of medical equipment 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.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, 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”.
The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described the project as ‘philanthropy at its best’, saying the NewCruse Mother and Child Complex represented the revolution Nigeria needs.
The Ondo governor praised Olanipekun and his family for the remarkable intervention in healthcare delivery, adding that the project would have a lasting impact beyond Ekiti State.
Aiyedatiwa also commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for creating an enabling environment that encourages notable indigenes of the state to contribute meaningfully to development.
“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.
“There is no gainsaying that while this facility will greatly serve Ekiti State, its benefits transcend state boundaries. Healthy communities mean stronger families, a more productive workforce and greater regional stability,” he added.
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.
Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi extolled Olanipekun’s contributions to humanity and national development, describing the senior advocate as a specially created 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 Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji described the legal luminary as a benefactor, father figure and one of the greatest ambassadors of Ekiti State.
Oyebanji said Olanipekun’s success had become meaningful because of the positive impact he continues to make on humanity through philanthropy and community development across Ekiti State and Nigeria.
He equally extolled the senior advocate for consistently remembering his roots and investing heavily in the development of his home 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?”
Meanwhile, at the Amoye Grammar School, Olanipekun 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.
He urged Old Students’ Associations across the country to take leadership in revitalising public schools, describing such bodies as vital complements to government in rebuilding educational infrastructure.
The National President of the Amoye Grammar School Old Students’ Association (AMOSA), Dr. Martins Oluwadare Adeyemo, described the Digital Centre as a state-of-the-art hub designed to enhance teaching, learning, internet access and e-learning for up to 150 users.
Adeyemo, however, appealed for additional laptop computers to bring the centre to full capacity and called for a dedicated solar power system to guarantee uninterrupted operation.
