Ex-Odu’a Investment boss donates Multi-milion Naira faculty building to boost medical tourism

Electronic Medical Record<br />

A philanthropist and Saworo of Ondo Kingdom Chief Isaac F. Akintade has donated a multi-million naira Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building to the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo to boost medical tourism in the country. 

He stated this while commissioning the building to commemorate the 2nd Founder’s Day of the institution on Thursday, saying it was borne out of the desire to contribute to UNIMED infrastructural development.

Akintade, who is the immediate past chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, lamented the high rate of medical tourism abroad by Nigerians despite the huge human resources and capacity available in the nation. 

He expressed optimism that the health facilities and medical personnel available in the country, if given the needed attention, could drastically reduce the trip abroad for medical treatment. 

The donor, who added that it was the seed of the Friends of UNIMED Fund (FUF) initiated in July last year, assured that he would continue to donate to the development, urging other indigenes and philanthropists to follow suite. 

The building worth N200m houses the departments of Anatomical Pathology, Medical Microbiology, Hematology, Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology; and the Faculty of Dentistry. 

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Friday Okonofua disclosed that the donation aided the accreditation of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programmes of the University.