50yrs Memorial : Famliy Honours Founder of Alafia Hospital, Dr. Agbaje with Health Cover, Business Grants

*50yrs Memorial : Famliy Honours Founder of Alafia Hospital, Dr. Agbaje with Health Cover, Business Grants*

It was a day of rich tributes, fond memories, and community impact on Tuesday, December 3, 2025, as family members, friends, religious and community leaders, and residents of Ibadan gathered to celebrate the 50th year remembrance of late Dr. Anthony Saka Agbaje — the first Ibadan-born, Western-trained medical doctor and founder of the historic Alafia Hospital, Mokola, Ibadan.

The golden memorial event, held within the premises of Alafia Hospital, was filled with reflection on the enduring legacies of the iconic physician, philanthropist, and pioneer healthcare practitioner who passed on December 3, 1975.

The event kicked off with a welcome address by the Chairman, Board of Directors of Alafia Hospital, Dr. (Mrs.) Omowunmi Odunsi Ahmed, the eldest surviving child of the late medical legend. She described her father as a visionary whose passion for quality healthcare and community welfare shaped generations and inspired countless professionals.

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Y.A. Akande, a close family friend, also delivered glowing remarks on the life and times of Dr. Agbaje, recounting his exemplary service to humanity, medical innovation, and leadership.

A major highlight of the remembrance celebration was the presentation of cheques to selected beneficiaries to support their small-scale businesses — a gesture from the Agbaje family to uphold their patriarch’s legacy of compassion and empowerment.

Additionally, over 250 individuals were enrolled into a fully-paid one-year health insurance scheme under the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), reinforcing Dr. Agbaje’s lifelong commitment to accessible healthcare for the underprivileged. The Executive Secretary of OYSHIA, Dr. Olusola Akande, was represented at the event by a Director in the Ministry of Health.

In his vote of thanks, the Managing Director of Alafia Hospital, Mr. A.B. Agbaje, expressed appreciation to guests and participants, while highlighting the legacy of his late father. He reaffirmed the family’s resolve to sustain Dr. Agbaje’s ideals of service, integrity, and medical excellence.

Established originally in Agbeni in 1932 before relocating to Mokola in 1938, Alafia Hospital was the first private hospital in the Old Western Region of Nigeria, becoming a beacon of hope and healing for decades.

The event drew wide attendance from religious leaders, community heads, public health stakeholders, alumni of Alafia Hospital, and descendants of beneficiaries of Dr. Agbaje’s services. It was a solemn yet inspiring reminder of the impact one life dedicated to service can have on an entire region.