Ilobu Community Seeks State Government Takeover of Lagbaja Hospital
The Ilobu Community in Irepodun Local Government Area has called on the Osun State Government to take over and affiliate the hospital facility facilitated by the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
The request was made by the Ilobu-Asake Development Union, IDU, during a press conference on Monday to herald the 34th Ilobu Day celebration.
The President of IDU, Professor Olufemi Saibu, recalled that the late COAS built the hospital for the community before his death in 2024. He said the community is ready to partner with the Osun State University Teaching Hospital through the state government to ensure effective management and improved access to specialised healthcare services for residents.
Saibu disclosed that the community, in collaboration with the Lagbaja family, has concluded plans to seek affiliation with the Osun State Government in order to give the medical facility the institutional and professional capacity required to serve Ilobu and neighbouring communities.
“We realised that managing such a specialised medical facility independently might be beyond our capacity. Therefore, in collaboration with the Lagbaja family, we engaged the state government so they could at least take that hospital up and affiliate it with the appropriate university teaching hospital,” he said.
He explained that the union has adopted a proactive approach to addressing developmental challenges by identifying pressing needs and presenting practical solutions rather than resorting to protests and confrontations.
The IDU president also acknowledged the contributions of prominent Ilobu indigenes and members of the diaspora, saying their collective support has remained instrumental to the community’s development efforts.
He commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for responding positively to some of the community’s requests, particularly those concerning the provision of land and other properties for development projects.
Saibu said the state government’s support has also strengthened the community’s efforts to expand educational opportunities, especially in medical and health-related fields.
He added that construction is ongoing on what he described as one of the best Colleges of Health and Technology in the locality, noting that necessary approvals have been secured.
“As we speak, construction work is ongoing, and we will soon have one of the best Colleges of Health and Technology in the locality. We have already secured the necessary approvals, and we are also looking forward to having universities, whether established by the Federal or State Government,” he said.