Ilobu community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State has called on the state government to take over and affiliate a hospital facilitated by the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, with a teaching hospital.
The community made the request through the Ilobu-Asake Development Union (IDU) during a press conference on Saturday to mark the 34th Ilobu Day celebration.
IDU President, Prof. Olufemi Saibu, said the community had concluded plans, in collaboration with the Lagbaja family, to work with the Osun State Government to give the facility the institutional and professional capacity needed to provide specialised healthcare services.
Saibu explained that the decision followed the realisation that managing a specialised medical facility independently could be beyond the community’s capacity.
“We realised that managing such a specialised medical facility independently might be beyond our capacity. Therefore, in collaboration with the Lagbaja family, we engaged the state government so they can at least take that hospital up and affiliate it with the appropriate university teaching hospital.”
Lagbaja, an indigene of Ilobu, died in November 2024 while serving as Chief of Army Staff.
His community had previously described him as being involved in the development of a community hospital before his death.
Ilobu’s latest appeal comes amid broader efforts by the community to improve healthcare infrastructure.
In 2024, residents had appealed to the Osun State Government to intervene in the poor condition of the Konda Comprehensive Health Centre, which serves Ilobu, Erin-Osun, Alapupu and neighbouring communities.
Saibu said the community had adopted a proactive approach to development by identifying pressing challenges and presenting practical solutions to government rather than resorting to protests and confrontation.
He also acknowledged the contributions of prominent Ilobu indigenes and members of the diaspora, saying their collective support had remained important to the community’s development efforts.
According to him, Governor Ademola Adeleke had responded positively to some of the community’s requests, particularly those relating to the provision of land and other properties for development projects.
Saibu said government support had also strengthened efforts to expand educational opportunities in Ilobu, particularly in medical and health-related fields.
He disclosed that construction was ongoing on one of the best Colleges of Health and Technology in the locality, adding that the necessary approvals had already been secured.
“As we speak, construction work is ongoing, and we will soon have one of the best Colleges of Health and Technology in the locality.
“We have already secured the necessary approvals, and we are also looking forward to working with universities, whether established by the Federal or State Government.”
The 34th Ilobu Day celebration, which began on November 7, 2026, is themed “Ilobu-Asake: United in Heritage, Rising in Development.”
Activities include a medical outreach, educational programmes, sporting events, cultural displays and the commissioning of an IDU shopping mall.
The community has also renewed calls for the immortalisation of Lagbaja, whose legacy remains closely associated with Ilobu.
