The Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration whose partnership with private stakeholders led to the establishment of the first tertiary medical training facility in the Kwara South Senatorial District, has further enhanced this milestone with the foundation-stone laying ceremony for a new three-story clinical building complex.
Last year, the Kwara State Government and Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Oko, signed an agreement to upgrade the Omu-Aran General Hospital to a teaching hospital for the institution’s medical students. This initiative aims to strengthen the state government’s collaboration with private institutions in healthcare delivery to produce more high-quality health workers, particularly medical officers and other specialists.
Presiding over the foundation-laying ceremony of the clinical building complex in Omu-Aran on Wednesday, Governor AbdulRazaq restated his administration’s resolve to partner with private stakeholders to attract investments and drive meaningful development across communities.
Governor AbdulRazaq noted that he was impressed that the partnership with the institution is already yielding results. He added that the facility will promote medical education, improve human resources in health, and contribute significantly to increasing access to quality healthcare delivery.
He also emphasized that the facility is more than just bricks and mortar, calling it ‘an enduring legacy for generations of Kwarans to come’.
‘Today marks another milestone as we witness the establishment of the first teaching hospital in Kwara South. This remarkable achievement, conceived and actualized through a strategic partnership with the Kwara State Government through the Kwara State Ministry of Health, will deeply promote medical education, improve human resources in health, and contribute significantly to increasing access to quality healthcare delivery for our people.
Having a tertiary healthcare facility in Kwara South is a vital step towards the decentralization process that reduces the heavy burden on centrally located facilities that are oftentimes challenging to access’ he said.
Governor AbdulRazaq praised the founder of the University, Dr Johnson Bamidele Adewumi and the management and staff for being committed to excellence and for being worthy partners urging the Omu-Aran community to embrace the project and continue to be peaceful, supportive and accommodating.
‘As we lay this foundation today, let us remember that we are building more than just bricks and mortar, we are building a healthier, brighter, and more enduring legacy for generations of Kwarans to come’ he said.
The governor was represented at the event by his deputy, Elder Kayode Alabi.
Team@orientactualmags.com reports that Speaker of the state House of Assembly , who is also the state APC Gubernatorial candidate, Rt Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu , Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Raheem Adeoti; Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam; former Vice- Chancellor University of Ilorin, Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem; Kwara South APC Senate candidate, Prince Lekan Adewoye; former Commissioner for Information and IPI top official, Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin and other dignitaries attended the event.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers in Kwara South, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu, praised the founder of TAU for bringing development to the senatorial district urging wealthy individuals from Kwara South to emulate him.
‘You have really made us proud in Kwara South, and we are deeply grateful to you. TAU Teaching Hospital comes with an array of opportunities beyond saving lives. You are creating jobs for our people and developing the zone for generations to come’ the monarch said.
He also commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his commitment to ensuring that every part of the state benefits from development, pledging the traditional institution’s support for his administration.
The teaching hospital will according to him save residents the stress and cost of traveling to Ido in Ekiti State and Oke-Ose in Ilorin to access specialized healthcare services.
President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Sir Bisi Fakayode, described the project as a beacon of hope for improved healthcare, medical knowledge and a brighter future for the people while the President of Omu-Aran Development Association, Prince Omoniyi Adeyeye, described it as landmark in the history of the community, expressing happiness that Omu-Aran is the host community.
He urged the state government to provide the necessary support to ensure that the hospital operates effectively, while commending the Governor AbdulRazaq administration for its commitment to the welfare of the citizens.
Providing an overview of the project, the project consultant, Professor Sulyman Alege Kuranga, described the partnership as a comprehensive initiative that will transform the former General Hospital, Omu-Aran, into a full-fledged teaching hospital for Thomas Adewumi University.
Kuranga, a former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, also disclosed that the proposed three-storey Clinical building complex of the Thomas Adewumi University Teaching Hospital (TAUTH) covers approximately 7,000 square meters, with the first phase expected to be completed and handed over for use within 18 months.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Professor Francisca Onaolapo Oladipo, highlighted the human impact of the project, explaining how the facility will address critical healthcare needs while creating opportunities for medical education and professional development.
She cited an expectant mother from neighbouring Oke-Onigbin who may require emergency medical attention in the early hours of the morning but would have been left with no option than to travel long distances, as well as a young girl in Omu-Aran who aspires to become a surgeon but would have to leave her community to pursue medical training.
‘The ground we break today is where both of their roads begin to grow’ she said.
The Vice-Chancellor also praised the Founder’s determination, noting that medical education, which, was initially projected for the university’s 25th year in its original strategic plan had become a reality in its fourth year through his vision and sacrifice.
She recalled that in April 2025, Governor AbdulRazaq approved a Memorandum of Understanding designating the General Hospital, Omu-Aran, as the university’s teaching hospital, with Professor Ademola Alabi Popoola appointed as its pioneer Chief Medical Director.
She further disclosed that the National Universities Commission approved the university’s Medicine and Surgery and Radiography programmes in 2025, while the institution matriculated its pioneer students in February 2026.
According to her, the university has initiated efforts to upgrade the facility, including repairs of existing equipment, construction of a new administrative block, equipping of the Ophthalmology Department and upgrading of the X-ray Department with new static and mobile units.
She added that specialized clinical services had since commenced, with patient numbers increasing monthly.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria visited the university in July 2026 for an advisory assessment and expressed willingness to partner with the institution.
In his remarks, the Founder and Chancellor of TAU, Engineer Johnson Adewumi, described the project as an important opportunity to preserve the history of the former General Hospital, Omu-Aran, while transforming it into a modern tertiary healthcare institution.
He recalled that the hospital was established on February 1, 1973, and had provided healthcare services to Omu-Aran and neighbouring communities for more than five decades.
According to him, the growing demand for quality and specialised medical services in Kwara South made the transformation of the facility both timely and necessary.
He explained that Thomas Adewumi University, which received approval from the Federal Executive Council on February 28, 2021, and an operating licence as a private university on April 8, 2021, had identified medical education and the training of doctors and allied health professionals as key pillars of its institutional vision.
Engineer Adewumi said the convergence of the university’s vision and the Kwara State Government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Kwara South provided the foundation for the partnership.
He expressed appreciation to Governor AbdulRazaq for championing the collaboration, adding that the presence of traditional rulers and prominent stakeholders from Kwara South at the event demonstrated widespread community acceptance of the initiative.
However, he urged the state government to provide the necessary financial support for the extensive upgrading of the hospital’s infrastructure and engagement of specialist consultants.
‘Your Excellency, we must candidly acknowledge that the scope and financial demands of a tertiary teaching hospital are far beyond the capacity of a private citizen of our category or a depressed rural community. Therefore, we respectfully call on the governor to use his best endeavours to provide the necessary financing for the extensive upgrading of the hospital infrastructure and to employ the required specialist consultants’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
