The Vice-chancellor Of Wesley University, Ondo, Ondo State, Rt Rev. Prof. Obeka and the Archbishop of Ilesa Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Amos Akindeko have expressed their disagreement with the Ijesa people's agitation towards upgrading and converting Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa to a National Medical Centre status.
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Both clergymen made their presentations when they led all the Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, students of Wesley University, on a condolence visit to Ilesa to commiserate with the entire Ijesa people on the demise of the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Obokun Adimula Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II CFR LLD.
Speaking before the Agba Ijesas led by Obanla Ibitoye, Prof. Obeka said the visit was symbolic because of the historical attachment of Methodism to Ijesaland.
"Consultations was already on with the late Owa Aromolaran on the issue of Wesley Guild Hospital". Obeka revealed
"One of the key features of this visit is the issue of Medical Institutions in Nigeria.
"If you mention the history of the establishment of Methodist colleges, University, Ijesa people is especially ovious in area of medicine.
"Today Methodist that provides solace and succour for other institutions where OAU Ile-Ife, UI and so on could come to get accredited for their medical courses has become what be called a father becoming servant in his home.
'Today, Wesley University has full fledged College of Medicine but without a teaching hospital. Whereas others have made use of it and got fully accredited.
"Wesley University has Medicine Surgery, Human Anatomy, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Health Information, Nursing as courses of study but no teaching hospital." Obeka submitted
Speaking earlier with the members of the Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee, Most Rev. Amos Akindeko had remarked on the charter that led to the release of Wesley Guild Hospital to then University of Ife as one of it's teaching hospitals where General Hospital Ilesa and Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Ile-Ife were equally part of the arrangement.
"Today Seventh Day Adventist Hospital Ile-Ife and General Hospital Ilesa have been released to their original owners. Why discrimination against Methodist Church Nigeria". Akindeko queried as claimed that the sponsor of the bill for the upgrade and Conversion of the hospital at the National Assembly did not consult with the church.
One would recall that a bill for an act to provide the legal framework for the upgrade and conversion of Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa to Federal Medical Centre, Ilesa, Osun State had scaled second and third readings in the House of Representatives.
The bill that sought to amend the Federal Medical Centres (Principal Act), 2022. had since been transmitted to Senate for concurrence.
"Ilesa Wesley Hospital, was the first Methodist hospital in Africa and Dr John Stephens, who opened it in 1912, the first doctor from the MMS anywhere on the continent. Prior to 1912 there were only eight hospitals in the whole of Nigeria. The project was supported by the Wesley Guild and the location was chosen because the local king was a Christian, the church there was strong, and the town had better transport links than most. Several times the embryonic hospital had to close for lack of funds or staff, but a more reliable service developed thanks especially to Stella Liony, a black British nurse, who pioneered female nurse training in Nigeria.
"The hospital was relocated and greatly enlarged in 1954. It benefited from the continuity provided by several long-serving missionaries, notably Sister Elsie Ludlow 1929-1960 and Dr. Andrew Pearson, medical superintendent 1953-1975. Under the pioneering work of the paediatrician Dr. David Morley (1923-2009) from 1956 to1961 Ilesa became internationally renowned for its research into patterns of child health and mortality. The success of its Under Fives Welfare Clinic was widely copied. The Guild's continuing support supplied only a fraction of the running costs; at times when government grants fell into arrears the survival of the hospital was precarious. But with significant co-funding from ICCO, a Dutch Christian aid organisation, it was again expanded in 1972, with 197 beds and around 230 staff. In 1975 the management of the hospital was taken over by the Western State Health Council and in 1976 by the Federal Government, but it continued to be known as the Wesley Guild Hospital."
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