By Precious Ireoluwa
A legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun has donated an ambulance to Specialist Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State in memory of his late mother, Iyaafin Bosede Olanipekun.
Handing over the ambulance to the Hospital in Ikere Ekiti on Tuesday, the donor, Chief Wole Olanipekun, said, the gesture was necessary in boosting the performance and productivity of the Amenity Ward of the hospital which he built some years back to aid the work of the health officials effectively in meeting the medical needs of the people of Ikere Ekiti.
Olanipekun used the opportunity to appeal to the Permanent Secretary of Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr Sola Badmos and the Chief Medical Director of Ikere Ekiti Specialist Hospital, Dr Akinsipe Catherine to ensure necessary things are done to take care and capture the staff of the Amenity Ward of the hospital in the State salary structure and ensure regular payment.
He disclosed that he was the one who paid the staff salaries of the Amenity Ward of the hospital for a period of two years at the opening of the health facility some years ago.
However, the legal luminary also still made the pledge of paying the salaries of the staff of the Amenity Ward for another two years. He also promised to employ two drivers for the ambulances as he specifically requested that the two drivers must be employed from Ikere Ekiti, his home town.
He commended the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado for demonstrating his love and care for Ikere people by donating a 50 KVA generator he used at his own private residence.
Advising the Chief Medical Director, Chief Wole Olanipekun assured her of his support to succeed in her position. He called on the Permanent Secretary to look at the State of the hospital and promised to give the hospital a facelift
While commending the Chairman of the local government area, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged him to lead the people of Ikere Ekiti very well.
Olanipekun also promised to assist the local government Chairman at strengthening Amoye Micro Finance Bank in Ikere Ekiti.
Reacting, the Chief Medical Director of Ikere Ekiti Specialist Hospital, Dr Akinsipe Catherine thanked the donor who has been supporting the Specialist Hospital in Ikere Ekiti over the years.
Akinsipe eulogized the precious roles of Chief Wole Olanipekun for single handedly building and equipping the specialist hospital with a brand ambulances and Mikano generator in the past.
She also commended him for considering it necessary to donate another ambulance for the same Amenity Ward of the Specialist Hospital. She used the occasion to call on other well meaning sons and daughters of Ikere Ekiti to continue to support the hospital in other areas of need such as provision of solar lights in the hospital.
In his own remarks, the Chairman of Ikere Ekiti local government area, Chief Adamolekun Olu Egbejoda hailed Chief Olanipekun for counting it worthy to donate a new ambulance for Ikere specialist hospital. He described the donation of the new ambulance as an emblem for the people of Ikere Ekiti.
He described his previous contributions in other areas such as provision of Bar Centre, Church building and Scholarship awards among others as giant strides on the part of the legal luminary in his country home of Ikere Ekiti.
The monarch of the town, Oba Adejimi Adu, also commended Chief Olanipekun and declared that he is no doubt an honourable man even in his own home town.
The Kabiyesi thanked God for giving Chief Wole Olanipekun to Ikere Ekiti. He prayed for his good health, sound mind and long life.
