CMD hails Fasoranti’s role in FUTA Teaching Hospital, says it will remain unforgettable
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Chief Medical Director of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital, Professor Olusegun Ojo, has paid glowing tribute to the late Yoruba elder statesman and Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti.
He described Pa Fasoranti as a selfless patriot whose contributions to education, democracy and healthcare development will remain indelible in the history of Ondo State and Nigeria.
Ojo said Fasoranti’s pivotal role in the actualisation of FUTA Teaching Hospital, Akure, stood out as one of his enduring legacies, noting that his advocacy, credibility and personal engagement with the Federal Government helped bring the long-awaited medical institution to fruition.
The centenarian died at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of public service, principled leadership and commitment to the advancement of society.
In a condolence statement issued following his death, the CMD expressed profound sorrow over the loss, while thanking God for granting the late statesman an exceptionally long and impactful life.
He extended the hospital’s condolences to Fasoranti’s immediate family, the leadership and members of Afenifere, the people of Akure, the Ondo State Government and Nigerians mourning the departure of the revered nationalist.
Ojo described the deceased as a teacher, school administrator, politician and pro-democracy activist whose life was defined by an unwavering commitment to justice, equity, true federalism and good governance.
According to him, Fasoranti distinguished himself in public service through integrity, courage and an enduring passion for the progress of the Yoruba people and Nigeria.
He recalled that the late elder statesman served as Commissioner for Finance in the old Ondo State and subsequently emerged as a leading voice in Afenifere, where his counsel and political convictions earned him widespread respect.
The CMD noted that Fasoranti’s influence extended beyond partisan politics, stressing that he remained a dependable advocate of fairness, democratic values and responsible leadership.
Ojo also celebrated the deceased’s contributions to education, describing him as a visionary educationist who understood that the transformation of society begins with investing in the minds and future of younger generations.
He said the schools established by Fasoranti, including Omolere Nursery and Primary School, Akure High School and St. Frances’ Academy, Igoba, represented enduring monuments to his commitment to human development.
Through these institutions, Ojo observed, the late statesman helped shape generations of learners and demonstrated that true leadership should be measured not merely by positions occupied, but by the opportunities created for others to succeed.
However, the CMD said one of Fasoranti’s most significant contributions to the people of Akure and Ondo State was his intervention in the establishment of FUTA Teaching Hospital.
He recalled that the elder statesman deployed his influence, credibility and fatherly standing to advocate the establishment of the hospital, engaging the Federal Government to ensure that Akure secured the long-awaited institution.
Ojo said the contribution would continue to resonate for generations, as the hospital strengthens medical education, advances healthcare delivery and expands access to specialist medical services for residents of Ondo State and neighbouring communities.
He noted that the importance of such an intervention could not be measured only by its immediate impact, but also by the countless lives the institution would continue to serve through treatment, medical training and the development of healthcare professionals.
According to him, Fasoranti’s role in the hospital’s actualisation reflected his understanding that sustainable development requires institutions capable of meeting the needs of present and future generations.
The CMD further described the late Afenifere leader as a bridge-builder and defender of the voiceless whose wisdom transcended political affiliations and whose commitment to the public good remained consistent throughout his lifetime.
Ojo said that although Fasoranti’s physical presence would be greatly missed, the institutions he helped establish, the ideals he defended and the lives he touched would continue to preserve his memory.
He added that the late statesman’s life offered enduring lessons in selflessness, integrity, courage and the responsibility of leaders to deploy their influence for the common good.
“Pa Fasoranti lived a full, purposeful and impactful life,” Ojo said, noting that his legacy of service, education, justice and nation-building would continue to inspire present and future generations.
The CMD prayed that God would grant the deceased’s family, Afenifere, the people of Akure and all those grieving the loss the strength to bear what he described as an irreparable loss.
He also prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed elder statesman, expressing hope that the values he upheld would remain a guiding light for Nigerians committed to building a just, democratic and prosperous society.
For FUTA Teaching Hospital, Fasoranti’s passing represents the loss of a distinguished patriot whose intervention helped advance an important healthcare institution. His legacy, Ojo maintained, will endure not only in the memories of those who knew him but also in the lives touched by the hospital he helped bring to Akure.
