Godwin Obla Foundation breaks ground on 23-room VIP Ward at FUHSTHO

A mammoth crowd gathered on Saturday, the 25th of October 2025, at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 23-room world-class amenity and VIP ward funded by the Godwin Obla Foundation, featuring private toilets, a coffee station, microwaves, televisions, internet access, and laundry services.

The project, initiated by Barr. Godwin Obla, SAN, aims to enhance patient comfort and strengthen healthcare delivery in the hospital.

Dignitaries present included the Och’Otukpo Odu, Dr. John Eimonye; the first-class chief of Otukpo-Ohimini, Chief Emmanuel Oche Okochi; the Benue State Deputy Governor, represented by the Hon. Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche; Otukpo Council Chairman, Prince Maxwell Ogiri; AVM Monday Morgan (rtd); Regional Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Normad Africa, James Agada; senatorial aspirant for Cross River North, Elder Dennis Adole; Hon. John Ngbede; and several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including J.Y. Musa.

The Director-General of the Godwin Obla Foundation, Uba Obande, said the foundation is non-political and urged the hospital management to maintain the facility as they have done with the renal center.

The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Teddy Eyaofun Agida (IION), commended Obla’s support, noting that since the federal government took over the hospital in April 2025, both its status and service delivery have greatly improved. He also praised the earlier renal center project as one of the best and most affordable dialysis units in the country. He prayed that other well-meaning Idoma sons and daughters emulate his gesture.

Barr. Obla explained that his motivation came from the desire to uplift his homeland despite being part of a minority ethnic group. He announced that construction would begin immediately and finish by April 2026, with the maintenance agreement to be signed with the hospital.

Otukpo Council Chairman, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, thanked Obla for his consistent support of community development, while Dr. Ogwuche, representing the Deputy Governor, urged others to follow his example.

The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Augustine Ogwuche Opiih, urged people to learn from Obla’s selfless gesture to develop Idoma land and expressed confidence in the Chief Medical Director and his high-maintenance culture to build on the existing projects.