Lagos (Nigeria): In a powerful testament to resilience and community spirit, Ago Medical Centre (AMC) has risen from the ruins of a devastating fire, with the unwavering support of the community, to unveil a state-of-the-art medical facility that now stands as a symbol of hope, healing, and progress.
Echoing the Yoruba adage “Ile Oba t’ojo, ewa lo bu si” — when a king’s palace burns, it returns more beautiful — the rejuvenated AMC in Okota, Lagos, has not only rebuilt but reimagined its purpose, offering cutting-edge healthcare with a renewed commitment to serve.
The groundbreaking official unveiling of the upgraded facility drew dignitaries, community members, and healthcare stakeholders from near and far.
They commended the hospital’s management for its resilience, while describing the new edifice as magnificent and a significant improvement to the quality of healthcare services for which the hospital is renowned.
Speaking at the grand ‘welcome back’ ceremony, the former National Secretary, NADECO and Afenifere, Chief Ayo Opadokun, applauded the faith and resilience of the Medical Director of Ago Medical Centre, Dr. Kola Afolabi, as he enthusiastically exclaimed:
“This new place has been found, has been reconfigured and made a very, very pleasurable medical centre to behold.”
In the same vein, Mr. Ogunsanya Oyeyemi expressed his excitement and joy at welcoming the facility back to the community.
He said it is unusual to see a hospital, or a care home that has been burned down from top to bottom, “now being raised within a few months. So I really want to thank him.”
According to Oyeyemi, Dr Afolabi has been serving “this community for more than 30-40 years, and this has been like a subsidised medical service for people.”
In his remarks, Afolabi welcomed all and expressed his appreciation for their love and support since the facility was razed. He assured them that the medical centre is back, now stronger in all ramifications.
He emphasised that the facility’s primary goal is to continue providing world-class health care services, fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and a highly qualified professional staff.
This commitment to excellence ensures that the hospital will deliver even more improved, better, and exceptional medical care than ever before, instilling confidence in the community.
His words: “We have a more conducive facility here than what we had before. We are excited to receive better services now than we had before. What we have here is a complete medical centre.
“We have diagnostics, we have a theatre where we can operate, we have a delivery room, the complete package,” he reassured.
Echoing her husband, the founding Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr Abiola Afolabi-Akiode, said she was grateful to God that they had been able to bounce back.
“We thank God that we’re able to bounce back after an unfortunate fire incident. We are truly grateful to God, as this came together with the support of the community, which was the hospital’s original purpose.
“We’re here to serve people, and we do hope that the patients stay even during the eight days, but we thank God that we are back to serve people. It is an equivalent of a five-star hospital,” she enthused.
She reassured the gathering that they could get whatever services they needed in the hospital, “whether it is MRI, whether it is laboratory, and of course, we are huge on maternal health,” she stated.
Mr. Moses Peter, the hospital’s General Manager, conducted a tour of the facility for those present at the event, allowing them to inspect the new and modern equipment.
According to Dr Afolabi, “The Ago Medical Centre will now operate a 24-hour medical hub offering services such as general medical practice, radiological and sonological diagnostics, antenatal and postnatal care and a wide range of other specialised medical services.”
Earlier in the invitation to the rejuvenated Ago Medical Centre, Afolabi thanked all for “their support for the AMC in the past months, as we suffered the significant loss of our site to the unfortunate fire incident that occurred on February 28, this year.
He added, “We thank God that with your support, we are back and rejuvenated. We appreciate your contributions to the hospital; your donation during the rebuilding period is greatly appreciated. Today, with your help through God, we are back in full operation in a new site,” the staff physician stated.
The facility, formerly located at No. 6 Oyinlola Close, has been relocated to a more expansive plot at No. 13 Oyinlola Close, Ago Palace Way. Okota, Lagos.