The coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has praised legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), for donating a modern Mother and Child Maternity Complex to the Ekiti State Specialist Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, his Ondo State counterpart, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande and other prominent Nigerians also commended Olanipekun for the gesture, describing it as a landmark contribution to healthcare delivery and nation-building.
Pate, who was represented by the Chief Medical Director of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Professor Kolawole Ogundipe, spoke yesterday in Ikere Ekiti during the official commissioning and handing over of the facility, known as the NewCruse Mother and Child Maternity Complex, to the Ekiti State government.
Describing the project as a symbol of compassion, patriotism, and shared responsibility for the well-being of Nigerians, especially women and children, Pate said the donation aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen maternal and child healthcare nationwide.
He said the facility represents a significant contribution to the Federal Government’s objectives of reducing maternal and child mortality and improving access to quality healthcare services.
While commending Olanipekun for an extraordinary gesture of philanthropy, the minister called on wealthy Nigerians, corporate organisations and development partners to emulate the gesture by supporting healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment procurement and community health initiatives.
According to him, “Chief Olanipekun remains a philanthropist who bestrides 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 become 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 have access to quality antenatal care, safe delivery services, and emergency obstetric services to strengthen healthcare delivery systems to ensure that every pregnant woman has access to care, immunisation, nutrition support, and comprehensive healthcare for newborns and children.”
Governor Oyebanji, who described the legal luminary as a benefactor, father figure, and one of the greatest ambassadors of Ekiti State, said his 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.
“There is no way you come through Ikere that you will not see Chief Olanipekun’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”.
Also speaking, Governor Aiyedatiwa, who described the project as’ philanthropy at its best’, said the NewCruse Mother and Child Complex represented the revolution Nigeria needs.
“It is a remarkable intervention in healthcare delivery and a project that would have a lasting impact beyond Ekiti State”.
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 politicians 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. It urged residents and political leaders to work together for the community’s progress.
