Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital, Osun State University

Toyin Falola

When I went to give the Chief Tunde Ponnle Lecture in 2023, one of the highlights of the visit was the insistence of Professor Labode Popoola, by then the ex-VC, that my wife and I must visit the medical center and hospital under construction. Professor Popoola drove us there, and his excitement could not be hidden.

From the professional landscaping to the majestic buildings, it was awe-inspiring. Professor Popoola was full of praise for Chief Alakija for this monumental donation. A genuinely sincere administrator, he took no credit. Had I known in advance, I would have joined them at the official inauguration this week. The joy that would radiate in the bellies of Professor Adebooye, the current Vice-Chancellor, whose administration sees the commemoration, would allow a big horse to pass through! Yes, in a Yoruba saying, a horse can ride in the stomach of a happy person.

The handover of the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital to Osun State University is nothing short of a remarkable achievement–one of the peaks of humanism. This is what we call a milestone in a university’s journey. The formal handover and celebrations will for sure dominate the headlines of print and electronic media. Still, the essential stories of patients who will have access to better healthcare systems and students who will receive enhanced training in well-equipped environments will continue for many years to come. It is not too far from the truth to say that Nigeria’s medical education is at risk due to underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare workers, and an overwhelming number of patients. Therefore, the gift of this medical institution from the Alakijas comes as a much-needed breath of fresh air. The completion and handover of the structure is a source of hope to many Nigerians.

            In an era when comfortable Nigerians now prefer medical tourism, the establishment of an ultramodern healthcare facility at Osun State University, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, negates this growing trend. According to witness reports, the facility is equipped to meet every medical need. Medical institutions are a bridge between life and intellect, which is why they are essential. Teaching hospitals are institutions for treatment and learning; thus, they play a key role in determining the quality of the country’s health care. The induction of 37 pioneer medical laboratory science graduates by Osun State University perhaps is a moment that amplifies the need for strengthening of Nigeria’s medical sector as Dr. Donald Ofili, the Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, at the ceremony advised graduates to resist the urge to leave the country in search of greener pastures whilst reminding them that the government needs their expertise for its people. Although the advice is not out of place, asking for patriotism may be ignored if the environment is not enabling.

Therefore, the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital becomes one of the institutions that give young Nigerians a reason to remain at home and be patriotic – by providing the tools, dignity, and professional standards required to thrive in the country. The Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital is said to be on par with, and even surpasses, several government-owned hospitals in the country. It houses 250 admission beds, 20 clinical departments, five non-clinical departments, community health units, maternity and neonatal Medicare, research and diagnostic laboratories, four well-equipped operating theatres, cutting-edge diagnostic imaging for CT Scan, MRI Scanning facility, Ultrasound scanning facility, X-rays and radiotherapy suites, 16 ICU, Ophthalmology units, modern mortuary, and many others according to footage circulating on social media. Some witness accounts state that it is currently the best-equipped medical facility in the country. Some other commentaries have also noted that the government can bear the cost of building this kind of hospital, but that dream does not materialize due to corruption. Commentaries like this now let the Alakijas’ act of philanthropy play the dual role of generosity and evidence of mis-governance.

Behind this gesture is the great philanthropist, Chief Folorunsho Alakija, and Modupe Alakija, one of Nigeria’s most influential businesswomen. Her life has traversed banking halls, fashion studios, and several boardrooms. She was born on July 15, 1951, and currently serves as the Group Managing Director of the Rose of Sharon Group and as Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited. She had a 12-year career in banking across Sijuade Enterprises, First National Bank of Chicago, and the International Merchant Bank of Nigeria. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to the fashion world – she established The Rose of Sharon House of Fashion, formerly known as Supreme Stitches. She entered the oil and gas business in the early 1990s with a persistent tenacity. Over time, she emerged as one of the most powerful and richest African women.

Alakija’s personality remains rooted in the philosophy of service. She is well-known for her philanthropic efforts that empower and build capacity. For example, her Rose of Sharon Foundation provides scholarships for orphans and business grants for widows. She donated a skill-acquisition center to Yaba College of Technology, and now, through her donation of a world-class medical facility to UniOsun, she continues her culture of philanthropy that supports societal development.

The official handover of the paperwork and signing took place at Famfa Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos, on November 25 November 25, 2025. The official commissioning of the hospital took place on Monday, December 15 December 15, 2025, at Osogbo. In attendance were the leadership of Osun State University and representatives of the Alakija family – Mr. Dele Alakija emphasized his parents’ vision to further strengthen the Nigerian healthcare system through education, innovation, and community service. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, regards the donation as “a timeless legacy and a seed that will continue to grow for generations,” and states that it was the happiest moment of his career, especially given his involvement from when the project site was still a piece of land. The Pro-Chancellor, Professor Wale Oladipo, spoke on behalf of the state government and affirmed that the facility has several sophisticated pieces of equipment that are rare in other Nigerian healthcare facilities, and promised that the facility, alongside this equipment, will be adequately managed with discipline and accountability.

The celebration is what many students will experience, learning with modern technology. Many citizens and patients now have access to this level of healthcare, and researchers will now find a physical location to make their innovations a reality through their interactions with this centre. The donation might also be a mental liberation for Nigerians to demand better healthcare facilities from their governments, because if one person can achieve this level of excellence, the government should have no excuse not to replicate this effort or do even better.

The Modupe and Folorunso Alakija’s donation, costing them N35 billion, is a project that will live on for many years to come, and its purpose will never diminish. This fact is best put by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, who stated, “This is not just a gift; it is a living institution that will outlive all of us.”  By donating this medical institution to Osun State University, Alakija has chosen legacy over visibility and has popularized a model of philanthropy that seeks to address Nigeria’s needs while prompting the country to recognize what it can become. This is his nation-building at its best. This is what all the rich men and women should emulate.

I appeal to Professor Adebooye to establish a strong sustainability committee. The equipment and its maintenance are expensive. Constant maintenance is needed, and a minor issue must be fixed immediately before the cost of overall repairs exceeds the initial cost of building the place. Funds will always be required. The project must be regarded as a legacy to the donor and to ensure permanent memory. If others see this achievement, they can try to emulate it. Chief Ponnle, a major donor to the University, passed on a day before the official opening of the Alakija Center, and the late chief will give his ancestral blessings.

Thank you, Mummy and Daddy Alakija.

Congratulations to Professor Clement Adebooye

May the health of those who pass through the hospital be restored.