Theophilus Danjuma, a Nigerian billionaire and one of the most affluent investors on the Nigerian exchange, has set a new record for philanthropic acts in the country.
The 84-year-old businessman, politician, retired army general, and former Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff donated $1.36 million to the College of Medicine, University of Lbadan (CoMUI).
The donation made through the T.Y. Danjuma Foundation was in response to an earlier request by the college towards the realisation of the student hostel building project, and it will be used to build Block D of the student’s hostel.
The Provost, CoMUI, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun, disclosed during a joint press conference organised by the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) shortly after the sod turning of the hostel block to be built with the donation.
Theophilus Danjuma was represented at the sod-turning ceremony by his wife, Senator Daisy Danjuma, who was accompanied by her sisters, Mrs Vicky Falope, a former permanent secretary to the Oyo State Government, and Dr Edugie Abigail Abebe, a former federal permanent secretary.
Address the media, the Provost, flanked by the Co-Chair of the Project Building Committee, Professor Gbemisola Oke, and the Deputy Provost of the College, Professor Adefatai Adeniyi, declared that the envisioned 280-room hostel, encompassing blocks A, B, C, D, E, and F, alongside a utility building, is designed to house a total of 664 students.
She declared that the hostel’s building was critical to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan’s re-accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
According to her, the hostel building project, undertaken in phases in partnership with the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide, is an alumni-driven initiative.
Prof Omigbodun remarked that the project’s current level was possible only because of God’s grace. He said Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma has again shown his love and passion for the good of ordinary people, calling on others to emulate him.
In their separate remarks, Professor Emmanuel Otolorin, President of ICOMAA Worldwide, and Dr Modupe Sokunbi, a platinum donor who joined the online press conference, thanked General Danjuma for the donation and support in implementing the project.
They lamented that although many individuals in the country have the means and wherewithal to help actualize the project, accessing and reaching out to them has been very difficult.
The duo appealed to other individuals to help the College of Medicine ensure the project’s timely completion, urging them to follow the retired Army boss’s example.
