Guinness Nigeria has a veritable legacy at LUTH – CMD

Press Release

Guinness Nigeria has received glowing commendations from the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH over its consistent support for the Guinness Eye Centre. This was the thrust of a courtesy visit by Guinness Nigeria Plc to the hospital, where the brewing giant donated the sum of N5million.

L-R: Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Christopher Bode, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, Sesan Sobowale and Head of Department, Guinness Eye Centre, LUTH, Prof Folasade Akinsola at a cheque presentation ceremony by Guinness Nigeria which held at the Boardroom of the LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos

Professor Christopher Bode, Chief Medical Director of LUTH, said that he was pleased with Guinness Nigeria’s involvement in sustaining the management of its eye centres for over 50 years; adding that the Centre would continue to deliver excellent eye care to patients. He thanked Guinness Nigeria for the timely and auspicious donation to the Centre and expressed his desire for a continued partnership.

“The gem that was sown many years ago has grown into a mighty oak that has trained over 100 specialist doctors, many medical students and other sundry healthcare workers. This eye centre is a living testimony to the values that Guinness espouses as a strong Nigerian brand. They have stayed this course with us over the years and I can boldly say that Guinness has a veritable legacy in LUTH. I would like to encourage other corporate bodies to follow this marker which Guinness has laid, and adopt various departments in our hospital,” Bode said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sesan Sobowale, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria noted that the donation is in keeping with the company’s commitment to supporting the Guinness Eye Centres in sustenance of its original vision and to ensure that the facility remains the reference point in the provision of excellent eye care in Nigeria’s health sector.

“Our relationship with the hospital is a long one. It is worthy to note that many years after the establishment of the LUTH Guinness Eye centre, it has continued to receive commendations from different parts of the world. At Guinness, our vision has always been to make a positive difference in society. We believe passionately that when we help Nigerians preserve their sight, we not only deliver quality eye care but we also contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria”, he said.

Speaking on the rationale behind the donation, Sobowale said: “It is our hope that this gesture would enhance the capacity of the Eye Centre to serve many more Nigerians. We will strive to do more with a view to creating a healthy society that improves the overall development of the nation”.

It would be recalled that the first Guinness Eye Hospital was built and commissioned in Kaduna in 1962, before the official opening of the company’s first brewery in Ikeja, Lagos. Since then, the company has established similar eye hospitals in Onitsha and Lagos. The Guinness Eye Centre Lagos, located within the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) became operational in 1992 while the Guinness Eye Centre Onitsha, Anambra State, was established in 1984 and operates under the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital.

Guinness eye hospitals continue to provide ophthalmic services to people from all parts of Nigeria and beyond, and also facilitate the training of medical students, resident doctors, nurses and community health officers.

Some dignitaries present at the occasion include Sustainable Development Manager, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Osita Abana, Head of Department, Guinness Eye Centre, LUTH, Prof Folasade Akinsola; Professor of Ophthalmology, Guinness Eye Centre, LUTH, Prof. Adebunkola Adefulu-Ositelu; Mr. Kelechi Otunmere, Head, Corporate Services, LUTH, Drs. Aribaba, Onakoya and a host of other consultant ophthalmologists.