By Ayuba Azeez
The Owonikoko Foundation has donated a new Medical Laboratory Building to the General Hospital, Iseyin, Oyo State, to improve healthcare services in the area.
The building was commissioned in the early hours of today, Friday, August 14, 2026, by the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Anifat Ibrahim, during a ceremony held at the hospital.
According to the Project Facilitator, Princess Adedapo-Ismail Fatimat Adewumi, the project was aimed at improving healthcare delivery at the hospital.
She expressed hope that the hospital would grow into a state hospital where more patients could receive treatment without being referred to facilities outside Oyo State.
In his remarks while presenting the building to the management of the hospital on behalf of the family of Late Alhaji Kazeem Omosalewa Owonikoko and Alhaja Juwerat Owonikoko, Alhaji Waheed Shittu Owonikoko said the family was committed to advancing the community development efforts of their late parents.
He disclosed that the General Hospital Iseyin was initiated by Late Alhaji Owonikoko and a few other leaders of Iseyin during his lifetime.
The Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba (Dr.) Sefiu Olawale Oyebola Adeyeri III, Ajirotutu I, lauded the children of the late Alhaji Kazeem Omosalewa Owonikoko for being worthy ambassadors of their highly patriotic father.
“I want to enjoin all parents in Iseyinland to take the education of their children seriously so that they can be useful to themselves, their parents even after their demise, and to the community at large, as demonstrated by the children of our late patriotic father,” Alhaji Owonikoko said.
He also urged other indigenes of Iseyinland, both at home and in the diaspora, to support the General Hospital, Iseyin with needed facilities and equipment for quality healthcare service delivery.
The Aseyin offered prayers for the repose of the souls of Late Alhaji Kazeem Omosalewa Owonikoko and his wife, Alhaja Juwerat Owonikoko. He added that the children and the family at large would continue to prosper in all their undertakings.
“Because their father was good and had a passion for the growth and development of the land, the Lord has blessed him with highly responsible and patriotic children. I pray to God to make them wax stronger and stronger,” the Aseyin prayed.
In his appreciation message, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. F. O. Oyewumi, thanked the foundation for its thoughtfulness which led to the successful completion of the project, now ready for use by the people of Iseyin Local Government and environs.
Describing Iseyin as unique in partnering with government to improve healthcare delivery, Dr. Oyewumi said the hospital management would remain grateful not only to the Owonikoko Foundation but also to the traditional ruler, the Aseyin of Iseyinland, for his donation of facilities worth millions of naira to the hospital as part of activities marking his second coronation anniversary.
He added that the Aseyin also donated a huge sum of money for the reconnection of electricity to ensure smooth operations at the hospital.
He announced that the management had approved the naming of the newly commissioned medical laboratory building as “Owonikoko Laboratory Building.”
Dr. Oyewumi further encouraged the people of Iseyin Local Government to emulate the gesture of the Owonikoko Foundation by contributing to the development of their community.
A letter of appreciation was presented to the Owonikoko Foundation on behalf of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board.
Dignitaries in attendance included: the Alado of Ado-Awaye, the Alawaye of Awaye, the Ikolaba of Iseyin, the Baale Koso of Iseyin, the Otun of Iseyin, the Ekarun of Iseyin, the Elero of Iseyin, the Paakoyi of Iseyin, the Ogboye of Iseyin, Prince Isiaka Adeoti, Prince Diekola Azeez, and several others.
The event was also attended by hospital officials, representatives of the Oyo State Government, members of the Iseyin Development Union, the Iseyin Council of Societies, artisans, trade associations, and other guests.