Governor Dapo Abiodun has applauded the philanthropic initiative of the Chairman of Rite Foods Limited, Asiwaju Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, OFR, for donating an ultra-modern Trauma Centre to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, Ogun State, for improved trauma healthcare services and in commemoration of his 80th birthday celebration.
This was at the commissioning of the 50-bedded facility, named Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre, by the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, on Saturday, 5th April, 2025.
At the well-attended event were the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako Oyedele; the Minister of Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; Speaker Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Olusegun Elemide; and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker. Other dignitaries include former Governors of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba and Senator Gbenga Daniel, other Senators, Traditional Rulers, top management of OOUTH, and other dignitaries from across the country.
While commending Asiwaju Adegunwa, who is also the Chairman of Ess-Ay Holdings Limited, Governor Abiodun quoted the words of the popular William Shakespeare which says, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”, affirming that the Rite Foods’ Chairman even at 80, has continued to attain greatness.
He stated his delight in celebrating Asiwaju Adegunwa during his birthday and also in being part of history in the donation of the trauma centre.
The governor asserted that the greatest gift to great men like Asiwaju Adegunwa is to celebrate him, as it creates more pleasure in doing more.
Abiodun said that Asiwaju Adegunwa has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the healthcare system of Ogun State, and that the trauma centre marks a significant milestone towards attaining that.
Also, Vice President Shettima lauded Asiwaju Adegunwa for his humanitarian gesture, which he said will help enhance healthcare delivery for accident victims and other trauma-related cases within Ogun and neighbouring states.
He noted that the provision of the healthcare facility was timely, as it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda for upgrading the health institutions in the country.
Vice President Shettima described the life of Asiwaju Adegunwa as well lived, with significant impact in the society and immediate community, creating employment for the indigenes of Ogun State, through valuable business enterprises, like Rite Foods Limited and Ess-ay Holdings Limited, which has contributed to the growth of the state’s and national economy.
According to Shettima, Asiwaju Adegunwa has inscribed his name in gold, adding that the Octogenarian believes in leaving legacies that lives for generation and this has prompted the trauma centre which will impact lives tremendously.
In her remark, the Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr. Oluwabunmi Fatungase, said the 50 bedded centre has been the desire of the management of the hospital, as the old 20 bedded accident and emergency centre is too small to accommodate accident victims within the state, which serves as a route for travelers traversing the different regions of the country, with a 41.5 percent accident rate.
She said it is a dream of over 20 years by various administrations come true as there is no General Hospital from Lagos to Benin and Ibadan to take care of accident victims, thereby making the trauma centre a well thought out project by Asiwaju Adegunwa.
She described the facility as a one-stop trauma centre with all the medical equipment and healthcare personnel to handle about 2,000 trauma cases in a month, from the severe to the minor ones. “We are thankful to the donor. I told him that he may not know the relief he has created, considering the millions of lives that will be saved here”, she added.
On his part, Asiwaju Adegunwa expressed gratitude to Shettima and Dapo Abiodun for their presence and commendation, as well as the hospital management which has promised to effectively utilise the trauma centre.
“Today, l am filled with immense joy as l reflect on Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre as another fulfillment of opportunity to serve a higher calling to give and serve”, he said.
