•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — THE Karim Adeyemi Foundation has inaugurated a newly constructed Emergency Children’s Ward at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, with stakeholders calling for stronger collaboration between government and private organisations to improve healthcare delivery.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held at Yemetu, Ibadan, on Tuesday, President of the foundation, Mogaji Abiodun Adeyemi, described the project as a major milestone in the foundation’s humanitarian interventions in Oyo State.
He said the ward project was inspired by the need to provide life-saving healthcare support for children and vulnerable families.
According to him, the initiative was first proposed by Ibrahim Lawal, who drew the attention of the foundation to the urgent need for an emergency children’s ward at the hospital.
“Once the idea was conceived, we engaged in months of consultations with the hospital management to ensure we were building exactly what the doctors and nurses needed and not just another structure,” he said.
Adeyemi added that the project remained personal to him because “charity must always begin at home,” noting that although the foundation had carried out several interventions in Ibadan since 2023, the emergency ward represented its first major investment in healthcare infrastructure.
He appreciated his son, Karim Adeyemi, for supporting the vision of the foundation, while also commending his wife, Alexandra Adunni Adeyemi, for her unwavering support toward the organisation’s interventions in Ibadan.
Adeyemi further praised the project manager, Bunmi Lawal, alongside builders and members of the foundation for ensuring the successful completion of the facility.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Olanrewaju Adeniji, described the building as “a game changer” capable of saving the lives of many children.
“This is an investment in humanity. There are children whose lives will be saved because of this structure. We will ensure proper maintenance so that the facility continues to serve as a centre of clinical excellence,” Adeniji stated.
He also appealed to non-governmental organisations, philanthropists and corporate bodies to support public health institutions across the state.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Akin Fagbemi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mrs. Anifat Ibrahim, said the intervention would significantly improve child healthcare services at the hospital.
She noted that hundreds of children are admitted monthly at Adeoyo Hospital for illnesses such as malaria, pneumonia and severe malnutrition, stressing that a clean and child-friendly environment would help reduce infections and speed up recovery.
“This ward is more than just beds and equipment. It is a bold statement that our children deserve quality healthcare and hope,” she said.
She further stated that government alone could not address all healthcare challenges, calling on well-meaning Nigerians and private organisations to partner with the state government in transforming the health sector.
“The Karim Adeyemi Foundation has demonstrated purposeful giving. This collaboration shows that when government and private individuals work together, we can achieve more for our people,” she added.
Ibrahim assured that the Hospital Management Board would ensure adequate staffing, supervision and maintenance of the facility to sustain its impact.
Representing the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, at the event, Chief Dr. Obitade Obimakinde commended the foundation for investing in the health and future of children in Ibadanland.
He described the intervention as a noble contribution to humanity and urged other wealthy individuals and organisations to emulate the gesture by supporting projects that positively impact society.