By; AYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has alerted that residents in Ibadan and Oyo State are not accessing its services as expected.
UNICEF Team leader, Mohammed Okorie raised the alarm in Ibadan when he led his team to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin on Wednesday at his Oke Are palace towards protection of rights of children in Nigeria.
Okorie stressed the visit became necessary to solicit the support of the Olubadan to sensitise, mobilise and enlighten parents and guardians towards ensuring that the rights of children are protected and “That every child right must be protected”.
” Ibadan and Oyo State residents are not accessing UNICEF services as expected, thus the need to appeal to Olubadan, Olubadan in council, Chiefs, Mogajis and Baales to sensitise and mobilise their people to make use of the facilities and opportunities provided by UNICEF”, he said.
The UNICEF Team leader added,”To ensure that pregnant expectant mothers attend antenatal care and save delivery, also, the care of the elderly persons and to impact on financial assistance to secondary health care institutions and other hospitals in general whenever the need arises”.
Receiving the UNICEF Team, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin lauded the Team for the visit.
Speaking through the Maye Olubadan, Senior Chief Rasheed Olalekan Alabi disclosed that the team made a right choice to make Olubadan as a reference point of contact to other traditional rulers in the country,
Oba Olakulehin emphasized the importance of Ibadanland being the home of first in the socio, economic, political, educational, information, health care delivery and cultural development of Nigeria.
“Ibadan is the home of first in Nigeria, Ibadan has been at the forefront of political, information, social and economic development in Nigeria. To mention just a few, the first teaching hospital, University College Hospital (UCH) was established in Ibadan, the first university in Nigeria, University of Ibadan was established in 1948 and the first television station in Africa was established in Ibadan”, he said.
The Olubadan added, “Thus the aims and objectives of UNICEF towards reduction of maternal mortality, infant mortality and other social and health problems will be realised now that you have visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland”.
