Agura Royal Club Holds Medical Outreach for Egba Indigenes in Honour of Oba Bakre

By: Olufemi Orunsola

As part of activities marking one-year remembrance of the late Agura of Gbagura land, Oba Dr. Sabur Babajide Bakre, Tobade Progressive Club of Gbagura has floated an over N20 million worth, 3-day Free Comprehensive Medical outreach and other programmes to add values to the lives of the people of Egbaland, especially people from the Gbagura kingdom.

Open Television Naija gathered the Agura commemorative initiatives, which have been executed in phases, are being spearheaded by Tobade Progressive Club of Gbagura founded by the late Agura. The commemorative medical project aims at touching the lives of about 3,000 Egba indigenes, cutting across the four sections of Egba Ake, Egba Oke-Ona, Egba Gbagura and Egba Owu.

Speaking with newsmen, the President of Tobade Progressive Club of Gbagura, Chief Olatunji Keshinro described the remembrance medical outreach as a befitting tribute to the legacy of community service for which the late King of Agura kingdom was known and will always be remembered.

Open Television Naija reports that the Agura remembrance free medical outreach attracted many dignitaries from within and outside the country, including the Queen of the late king, Olori Bolanle Bakre as well as other stakeholders from the Tobade Progressive Club of Gbagura at home and abroad.

The club's President, Chief Keshinro, revealed that the 3-day free comprehensive medical outreach, which held simultaneously at the Agura Palace at Oke-Iddo and Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta provided health services like pre-screening for dental and opthalmic surgeries as well as general medical consultations and education, taking place between Monday June 3 and Wednesday June 6, 2024.

He further revealed that prior to the medical outreach, the royal club had earlier executed three phases of its community service initiatives such as giifting an indigene of Gbagura a brand new Peugeot 306 car, renovation of the Palace of Agura and donation of monetary gifts/palliatives to the elderly and other vulnerable Gbagura indigenes in tandem with the ideals and passion of the late Agura for community service. 

"This medical outreach is our fourth programme, and it reflects the late King's belief in touching the lives of people, especially the elderly", he said, noting that the medical outreach was made possible with the support of the Bakre family, in collaboration with the National Council of Nigeria Muslim Organizations and medical professionals from the United States of America.

Also speaking on the outreach, the Second Vice President of Tobade Progressive Club of Gbagura, who is the coordinator of the medical outreach, Dr. Abayomi Olajide, gave further insights into the scope of the outreach, revealing that the medical outreach, which provided free medical check ups, medical consultations, health education and surgical interventions, is worth well over N20 million, considering the quality of drugs, medical equipment and personnel engaged at subsidized rates.

"We've conducted screenings for malaria, hepatitis, blood sugar, and urine analysis.Those needing medications received them free of charge, while those requiring surgical interventions are prepared for subsequent stages", Dr Olajide, former Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State Chapter, said. 

Open Television Naija recalls that the late Agura of Gbagura land, Oba Dr. Sabur Babajide Ishola Bakre (Jamolu II) of the Egiri Ruling House of Gbagura, joined his ancestors on June 14, 2023, barely a month after his fourth year on the throne of his forefathers which he had ascended on May 12, 2019.

Gbagura, one of the four kingdoms of Egbaland, is the home town of world acclaimed successful business man and mega philanthropist, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (GCFR), winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential elections.