Makkah eye centre will curb capital flight – Makinde

Albasar International Foundation’s Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital was yesterday inaugurated in Ibadan, Oyo State, with Governor Seyi Makinde declaring that the state-of-the-art centre will not only provide specialized medical services, cutting-edge diagnostics, and advanced surgical procedures but also prevent capital flight from the state and Nigeria. The specialist hospital, the third in Nigeria after those […]

Albasar International Foundation’s Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital was yesterday inaugurated in Ibadan, Oyo State, with Governor Seyi Makinde declaring that the state-of-the-art centre will not only provide specialized medical services, cutting-edge diagnostics, and advanced surgical procedures but also prevent capital flight from the state and Nigeria.

The specialist hospital, the third in Nigeria after those located in Kano and Bauchi states, is part of the humanitarian efforts of the foundation to prevent avoidable blindness across Africa and Asia.

Speaking at the commissioning of the hospital located in the Elebu area of Ibadan, Governor Makinde said the eye centre would help retain financial resources within the state and country, especially in the health sector.

The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Musibau Babatunde, said  the eye centre stands as a testament to the belief that quality healthcare should be accessible to all, representing an investment in human capital, social welfare, and sustainable development.

“By providing specialized eye care services, early diagnosis, treatment, and preventive interventions, this facility will contribute significantly to reducing avoidable blindness and visual impairments within our communities,” Makinde said.

On its economic impact, the governor added: “It’s going to prevent capital flight from Nigeria and from Oyo State. As a professional economist, the money that would have been taken elsewhere will now be retained and expended here. And the multiplier effect is going to be quite huge for the economy of Oyo State.”

In his opening remarks, the Secretary General of Al-Basar International Foundation, Dr. Adel Alrashood, a prominent ophthalmologist in Saudi Arabia, said the hospital was established through collaborative efforts aimed at helping the needy and addressing preventable blindness.

“We are here to put our hands together so we can help the needy in the prevention of blindness and in treating eye disabilities,” he said, adding, “This hospital is meant to be part of the system of the government and non-government health systems so we can achieve the same vision.”

Alrashood expressed confidence that the project was made possible through strong partnerships and collective commitment.

“Without putting our hands together, this hospital would not see the light and would never have been established,” he said.

He further commended the support of other non-governmental organizations and local partners, describing them as strong allies of the Al-Basar Foundation.

He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to expanding access to quality eye care services and strengthening collaboration with government institutions to ensure sustainability.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, described the facility as gigantic, noting that it would help stem the tide of eye challenges not only in Ibadan but in the Southwest.

“Ibadan is lucky to have this. We hope that in another ten years, nobody will suffer avoidable blindness,” Oba Ladoja said.