Alakija Donates N34bn Hospital to UNIOSUN

Renowned Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist Folorunso Alakija has made a landmark contribution to public health by donating a state-of-the-art medical research and training hospital valued at N34 billion to Osun State University (UNIOSUN).

The facility, officially named the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital, was commissioned on Monday in Osogbo by former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. This gesture underscores Alakija’s longstanding commitment to education, healthcare, and national development, building on her previous donations including the Rose of Sharon Foundation’s initiatives in poverty alleviation and skills training.

Equipped with 250 admission beds, the hospital boasts 20 clinical departments and five non-clinical departments. Key features include a community health unit, comprehensive maternity and neonatal care services, advanced research and diagnostics laboratories, four modern operating theatres, and cutting-edge diagnostic imaging suites with CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and X-ray capabilities. Additional amenities comprise radiotherapy units, 16 intensive care units (ICUs), an ophthalmology centre, and specialized facilities for healthcare delivery research, positioning it as a hub for medical innovation in Southwest Nigeria.

Speaking at the commissioning, Alakija emphasized the hospital’s role in addressing Nigeria’s healthcare deficits. “This investment is not just in bricks and mortar but in the future of our youth and the health of our nation,” she said, according to reports from Vanguard and Punch newspapers. The project, developed in partnership with UNIOSUN, aims to train medical professionals while providing affordable, high-quality care to Osun residents and beyond.

Prof. Osinbajo praised the donation as a model of private sector intervention in public good, noting its potential to reduce medical tourism and foster research breakthroughs. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented at the event, lauded Alakija’s partnership with the state, aligning it with ongoing efforts to upgrade UNIOSUN’s health sciences programs.

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Alakija, vice chair of Famfa Oil Limited and one of Africa’s richest women with a net worth exceeding $1 billion (Forbes estimates), has a track record of philanthropy. Past contributions include N1 billion for UNIOSUN’s College of Law in 2022 and scholarships for thousands of indigent students. This hospital marks her largest single healthcare gift, amid rising calls for private investment in Nigeria’s strained health sector, where public spending remains below 5% of GDP.

UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Clement Adebooye hailed the facility as transformative, projecting it will serve over 500,000 patients annually and generate research output for global publication. The hospital is now operational, with immediate focus on staff training and community outreach.