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When the global pandemic broke out in 2020, Ekiti State’s Government responded to the crisis quickly by forming exemplary committees that sourced the aid of prominent individuals like Dr. Olowolafe, who played a helpful role in mitigating COVID-19 effects in the State. Because of the state government’s effective response, Ekiti was one of the first states in Nigeria to impose varying degrees of restrictions on the movement of people and goods to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The State issued the closing of markets, prohibited public gatherings, and undertook economic stimulatory measures to counter the negative economic impacts of the curfew and State of emergency. Aside from the stimulus checks, Ekiti state’s government introduced direct livelihood intervention measures to ease the impact of the pandemic on the rural populace, businesses, artisans, and small-scale entrepreneurs.
Ekiti States’ COVID-19 Situation
At the time of the global pandemic, Nigeria considered Ekiti State to be one of the poorer states in Nigeria, with a meager federal allocation and a low internally generated revenue (IGR) drive. When the ravaging coronavirus pandemic broke out, Ekiti state was scampering to muster resources to fight the scourge.
The State needed funding and relevant health personnel who could bring their expertise to handle the crisis. As a result, Ekiti State’s government constituted the Ekiti State Covid-19 Response Resource Mobilization Committee to help raise funds for the State and seek the aid of individuals or corporate organizations to support the State’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
Dr. Tunji Olowolafe’s Role in Ekiti State’s Coronavirus Response
Ekiti State’s COVID-19 Response Resource Mobilization Committee picked Dr. Olowolafe to chair a Medical Logistics and Project Nomination subcommittee. The State chose Dr. Olowolafe because of his reputation for successfully supervising and constructing several world-class health facilities in Nigeria with his company, Deux Project Limited. Within months, Dr. Olowolafe’s team had identified an area of intervention and raised the stake in the health sector.
Olowolafe’s committee conducted research, sampling, and screening across Ekiti and conducted COVID-19 NCD surveillance and intervention in the State. As the Medical Logistics and Project Nomination Committee chair, Dr. Olowolafe facilitated the setting up of a Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory in Ekiti State Teaching Hospital to carry out COVID-19 testing for Ekiti State’s citizens. Furthermore, the committee’s efforts in the State facilitated the renovation of Oba Adejugbe Specialist Hospital to make it ready to serve as a central Isolation Centre for COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Tunji Olowolafe attributes his success in his business ventures to doing his best daily. He continues to remark that Ekiti State would only have achieved a fast COVID-19 response with the people he collaborated with who were more innovative and resounding than him. Looking back at his grandmother’s advice, Dr. Olowolafe feels that the most significant impact on his career and that Ekiti had a faster COVID-19 response was his and his team’s commitment to upholding hard work, humility, and honesty.
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