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The Tony Anenih Geriatric Center located in the University College Hospital (UCH) celebrated its sixth anniversary on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The event was held at Theophilus Ogunlesi Multipurpose Hall, South Campus of UCH, Ibadan.
In her remark, the matriarch of the Anenih family, Chief (Mrs) Josephine Anenih said the geriatric center was borne out of goodwill and the passion to cater for people, having nothing to do with politics. She encouraged people with means to always be ready to help the poor and the less privileged in the society.
She said: “Nigerians should imbibe the spirit of philanthropy. People should be philanthropic in the genuine sense of it. People should also be able to distinguish those who do philantropy for show and those who do it out of good will.
“I am happy we do have a few philanthropic people in Nigeria. We don’t need to wait for government to do everything. People who are rich and who have made it in all sense of life should be generous.
In his lecture titled, “The role of elderly in Contemporary Nigeria”, Engr. Said Sulu, charged parents to make their children responsible. He also admonished rich people to always spend money on good causes.
Engr. Sulu is a retired Permanent Secretary in the old Oyo state.
In his address, the Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge went down memory lane on how the geriatric center came into existence as well as the role late Chief Tony Anenih played in making the dream become a reality.
He said: “The geriatric center came about because of the father-son relationship I had with him. He counted me worthy as a son, of which I will forever be grateful. Chief Anenih was a man sent by God. We procured everything at the center with his support. The center is the first of its kind in Africa”.
Apart from Mrs Anenih, dignitaries present at the event include the representative of the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; the Director of the center, Dr Olufemi Olowookere and the pioneer Director of the center, Dr Lawrence Adebusuyi.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of Award of Excellence to Prof. Alonge for his contribution in setting up the geriatric center and promoting the care of aged people in the country.