Tukur & Tukur Foundation, a non-government organisation (NGO), has commenced a three-day medical outreach programme in honour of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
The medical outreach came up as the final burial ceremony of the late 42nd Olubadan, who joined his ancestors on 14 March, 2024 after two years in the throne, holds on Saturday.
The outreach, which kicked off today at the Aliiwo Family Compound of the late Olubadan, will hold at same venue on Friday while the third and final leg will hold on Saturday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, venue of the final burial ceremony of the late Oba Balogun.
Tukur & Tukur Foundation was set up by the Aare Akinrogun of Ibadanland, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai (rtd), who was a former Chief of Army Staff and a former Ambassador to Benin Republic
The chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Foundation, Colonel Haruna Idris Zaria (rtd), led the 15-member team of medical personnel to Ibadan for the medical outreach.
He disclosed that the outreach “is the Foundation’s way of saying final good bye to an illustrious and enigmatic personality”.
The BoT Chairman explained that the Foundation, which was founded in November 2012, felt compelled to come to Ibadan to be part of the final burial activities.
Colonel Zaria said this was due to the fact that the Foundation could not participate in all the previous programmes relating to the passing of the late Oba Balogun, including the actual burial and the Fidau prayers held on the eighth and 41 days after his demise.
He said the Foundation was set up as an interventionist organ to assist government in its own little ways, having realised that government alone, however buoyant it may be, cannot do all.
The Tukur & Tukur Foundation BoT Chairman added: “We are happy doing what we are doing, consulting, treating and giving drugs out to people freely.
“We are not afraid of people’s turn-out because we are well prepared for the outreach as you can see what we have in our pharmacy corner.
“The Foundation, because of our verifiable activities, enjoys a lot of goodwill.
“We are open to well-wishers to donate and we receive donations from individuals, corporate organisations and international agencies. It is through these and our efforts that we are being able to discharge our mandate of touching lives.”
Zaria disclosed that, in addition to its core four main humanitarian activities, the Foundation engages in such as medical outreach, giving out of assistive devices, free eye screening and cataract surgery and ear, nose and throat treatment.
He added that Tukur & Tukur also do address the educational needs of the people through provision of infrastructure, books and other disposables.
Senator Kola Balogun welcomed the medical outreach team to the venue of the programme on behalf of the Aliiwo Dynasty.
Balogun, a member of the ninth Senate and the Baba-Kekere to the late Olubadan, said the gesture of bringing the outreach to Ibadan in honour of the late Oba Balogun was a great show of love, loyalty and commitment of General Tukur to Ibadanland.
He said the gesture was in appreciation of the chieftaincy title of Aare Akinrogun of Ibadanland bestowed on the former Chief of Army Staff, though not by the late Olubadan but by his predecessor, late Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1.
The former federal lawmaker also noted that the friendship the late Oba Balogun and the former COAS forged that time began to flourish.
He also recalled that his membership of the Senate Committee on the Nigeria Army brought him in contact with the former COAS during which the duo also began to relate very well up till date
Senator Balogun asked the people to always remember the Ibadan chieftaincy title holder in their prayers for more success.
“To come down to Ibadan for this masses-oriented programme is a testimony of his love and concern for the downtrodden,” he added.
Several patients were attended to at the medical outreach programme through consultation, treatment and free giving of drugs and glasses.
The programme had in attendance the first child of the late Olubadan, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Osinowo, among other top members of the family.
