Oyo State residents, particularly those aged 50 years and above and children, on Tuesday turned out in large numbers across the 33 Local Government Areas of the state to benefit from a free medical outreach, as activities marking the 50th anniversary of the state entered its second day.
The free healthcare outreach ran concurrently across Primary Healthcare Centres in the state.
The PUNCH reports that Governor Seyi Makinde had, on Monday, inaugurated the 50th anniversary of the state at the International Conference Centre in Ibadan, the state capital.
The state government unveiled a week-long programme for the anniversary on January 21, 2026.
The events include religious services, cultural exhibitions, an awards and dinner night, and a public lecture titled, “Consolidating the Legacy, Navigating the Present and Reimagining the Future.”
Governor Makinde also appointed a former member of the House of Representatives, Saheed Fijabi, as chairman of the 11-member planning committee for the anniversary.
During the inauguration on Monday, family members of former governors, traditional and religious leaders, top government functionaries, and political stakeholders gathered to celebrate the state, which was created on February 3, 1976, from the former Western Region of Nigeria, with Ibadan as its administrative capital.
While the Olubadan of Ibadanland and Chairman of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Rashidi Lafoja, and other prominent traditional rulers were in attendance, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Olaoye Ghandi, were conspicuously absent.
The PUNCH correspondent, who monitored some areas within Ibadan metropolis on Tuesday, recorded a large turnout of residents who came out to access the services and free drugs offered at the outreach.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Fijabi, also led other members to monitor the situation and service delivery.
Speaking after accessing care at the Primary Health Care centre in Bashorun, Fijabi explained that the decision to include free healthcare as a core part of the Golden Jubilee programme was driven by the understanding that good health is fundamental to productivity and wellbeing.
He added that no society can thrive if its people are unhealthy, saying the initiative was designed to give back to the citizens who have sustained the state over the past five decades.
“The residents across all local governments have been responding positively to the outreach, with people from different age groups, young and old, trooping out to access the free services.
“The turnout is impressive as evidenced. The programme is timely and relevant, coupled with the fact that the initiative reflects the compassionate vision of Governor Makinde, who insisted that the healthcare services be provided free of charge to ease the burden on citizens.
“If you remember, the governor himself made reference to the free education he received, among many other benefits, from the late Governor Bola Ige and other past heroes of the state.”
The committee chairman acknowledged that while resources must be prudently managed, the government considered the health of the people too important to overlook.
He said the outreach, which followed a successful opening ceremony and other celebratory activities, underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring that the Golden Jubilee is not just about celebration, but also about meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Broadcast, Bose Sodiq, described the free medical outreach as a deliberate effort by the state government to give back to society, particularly to residents who often avoid hospitals because they cannot afford medical bills.
“Many Nigerians live with untreated health conditions due to financial constraints. The free services were introduced to encourage people to check their health status and seek timely medical care without fear of cost,” she said.
She urged residents who were yet to take advantage of the programme to come out and benefit, saying no payment is required at any of the designated centres.
In their separate remarks, residents of Alafara, Bashorun, and Oranyan who participated in the exercise expressed appreciation to the government and described the initiative as timely and impactful.