In a major step towards strengthening healthcare at the grassroots level, the Oyo State Government has commenced the upgrade of 66 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across its 33 local government areas, providing modern medical equipment, 10KVA solar inverter systems, and waste disposal units.

The initiative, which marks a second phase of the state’s healthcare revitalization programme, was unveiled on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, during a facility tour and equipment distribution in Ibadan.

“Healthcare is one of the pillars of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration under Omituntun 2.0,” Dr. Ajetunmobi said. “The Oyo State Government has been addressing the infrastructure and personnel gaps in the sector. Governor Seyi Makinde continues to fulfill his promises by tackling the non-availability of basic medical equipment and personnel in our health facilities.”

According to the Commissioner, the government had previously renovated over 200 PHCs and recruited over 3,000 healthcare workers to staff the centres. The new phase focuses on equipping these facilities with essential tools to ensure quality service delivery and reduce health disparities in rural and underserved communities.

“We selected two PHCs from each of the 33 local governments, using factors such as patient load. This marks Phase I of our equipment upgrade rollout,” she added.

Features of the Upgrade

The revamped PHCs will benefit from the following interventions:

10KVA Hybrid Solar Inverter Systems with lithium batteries for 24-hour electricity

Red-Brick Medical Incinerators for hygienic waste disposal

Computer Tablets with EMR Software for digital record keeping

Medical Equipment, including:

Electronic sphygmomanometers (standing and table-top)

Pediatric blood pressure cuffs

Glucometers and haemoglobinometers

Infrared thermometers

Gas-powered bucket autoclaves with tapes and drums

Oxygen cylinders and nebulizers

Pulse oximeters and HIV/Syphilis/HBSAG Rapid Diagnostic Testing kits

First aid boxes, colour-coded bins, and tools for cylinder management

Dr. Ajetunmobi also revealed that the state plans to introduce a Drug Revolving Fund to guarantee the availability of essential medications across PHCs. She urged communities to protect the newly upgraded centres from vandalism and take ownership of public healthcare assets.

Private Sector Collaboration

Professor Temitope Alonge, Managing Director of First Health Dynamic Synergy International Limited—the firm executing the upgrades—emphasised that selection of PHCs was based on the population served.

“No more excuses in our primary healthcare centres. The state government has made provision for basic medical equipment for the use of medical personnel at their facilities,” he said.

Local Government Endorsement

At Olorisa-Oko PHC in Akinyele Local Government, the council chairman, Hon. Akinwole Akinleye, praised Governor Makinde for prioritising the health of rural dwellers and pledged continued support for facility security and staff welfare.

One of the earliest beneficiaries of the new upgrades is Odo-Ona Elewe PHC in Oluyole Local Government, which has already received its full equipment complement.

The announcement was formally signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, who reiterated that the programme aligns with the state’s commitment to universal health coverage and grassroots development.

A wave of grief swept through the Portuguese town of Gondomar on Saturday, July 5, 2025, as thousands gathered to bid a final farewell to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva, who tragically died in a car accident earlier in the week.

The heartbreaking funeral, held at 10:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT), took place just 48 hours after the siblings’ vehicle crashed on a motorway in northwestern Spain and caught fire, killing both men instantly. The crash occurred while the brothers were travelling to a jetty to board a ferry to the United Kingdom.

Just Days After a Wedding, a Family is Plunged into Mourning

The devastating accident came barely a week after Jota had celebrated his wedding. According to reports, the 28-year-old forward had been advised against flying due to a recent lung surgery, prompting the road trip instead. His 25-year-old brother, André, also a footballer at local club level, was accompanying him.

In an emotional service presided over by the Bishop of Porto, the pair were laid to rest in their hometown of Gondomar, located near Porto. The ceremony was attended by Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, football agent Jorge Mendes, FC Porto President Andre Villas-Boas, teammates, and several football icons from across Europe.

Speaking at the funeral, the Bishop described the brothers’ passing as “a loss beyond words,” adding, “They were not only stars on the pitch but bright lights in the lives of many.”

Anfield Pays Tribute

Meanwhile, back in England, Liverpool Football Club has announced that it will pay the remainder of Jota’s wages to his family, an act that fans have praised as a “touch of class” by the Premier League giants.

“We are heartbroken and stand united with Diogo’s family,” said a Liverpool FC statement. “We urge the public to respect their privacy during this unimaginably difficult time.”

At Anfield Stadium, fans have turned the gates into a living memorial, laying scarves, jerseys, heartfelt notes, and bouquets of flowers. Liverpool has also postponed its pre-season training, originally set for Friday, to allow teammates and coaching staff to travel to Portugal for the burial.

A Life of Promise Cut Short

Diogo Jota, born in Porto in 1997, rose to prominence at FC Paços de Ferreira before stints at Atletico Madrid, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Liverpool, where he became a fan favorite for his relentless style and crucial goals. He earned over 35 caps for Portugal, scoring key goals in both European and World Cup qualifiers.

Jota leaves behind his mother, grandfather, a newlywed wife, and three children. His younger brother André, though not as globally known, was cherished in the local football scene and actively involved in youth mentorship.

Family Devastated, Nation in Mourning

On Friday, mourners flocked to the São Cosme Chapel for a wake, where grief was palpable. Jota’s grandfather, visibly heartbroken, had to be assisted inside the chapel. Family members clung to one another for strength.

Jota’s agent, Jorge Mendes, told reporters: “We have lost a warrior, a gentleman, a family man. Diogo was on the path to greatness, not only in football but as a person.”

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc) has become the first financial services institution in West Africa to successfully list and trade its ordinary shares on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The milestone was announced on Thursday following the official admission of GTCO’s Ordinary Shares to the Equity Shares (International Commercial Companies Secondary Listing) category of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Official List, as well as trading on the LSE’s main board for listed securities.

This historic dual listing—already active on the Nigerian Stock Exchange—represents a pivotal step in GTCO’s ambitious growth strategy across global markets. Subject to regulatory conditions, GTCO’s shares are also expected to become transferrable between the Nigerian and London exchanges.

$105 Million Raised in Marketed Offering

The LSE listing comes after the successful pricing of GTCO’s fully marketed public offering, which raised $105 million through the issuance of 2.29 billion new ordinary shares. The offering attracted high-quality, long-term institutional investors and builds on a prior ₦209 billion equity raise from July 2024.

Concurrent with the listing, GTCO announced plans to cancel the listing of its Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) from the LSE, a strategic shift that aligns with the company’s broader capital structure reforms.

GTCO stated that proceeds from the listing will be used to reinforce its capital base, meet new recapitalisation targets, and fund its expansion across high-growth markets and priority sectors in and beyond Nigeria.

CEO: “A Major Milestone for African Finance”

Speaking on the listing, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, said:

“Today marks a major milestone—not just for GTCO, but for the future we see for African financial institutions on the global stage. We are incredibly proud to be the 1st Financial Services Institution in West Africa to list our ordinary shares on London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities, and even more honored by the trust placed in us by the investing community.

For us, this was not just about raising capital. It was about validating the strength of our franchise, the clarity of our strategy, and the discipline with which we execute.”

He added:

“I would like to thank everyone who made this possible—our advisors and legal teams, our longstanding shareholders, the regulators both in Nigeria and in the UK, as well as the Nigerian government for creating an environment that supports our bold ambition and vision to be Africa’s leading financial services institution.”

Global Confidence in GTCO’s Strategy

The offering’s success signals renewed investor confidence in GTCO’s robust corporate governance and long-term strategy. It also reflects growing optimism about Nigeria’s economic direction, following recent structural reforms by the Federal Government and a return to orthodox monetary policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

These reforms have helped stabilise macroeconomic conditions and gradually restore global investor confidence in Nigeria’s long-term financial prospects.

What’s Next?

Trading of GTCO Plc’s shares on the LSE under the ticker “GTHC” is expected to commence at 8:00 a.m. (UK time) on July 9, 2025. The company has indicated plans to change the ticker symbol to “GTCO” and will issue a separate statement to announce the transition.