The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has commended the Old Girls Association of Queens School, Ede/Ibadan, for their initiative to immortalise the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, popularly known as the Ebola Heroine, noting that she deserved the honour and even much more.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation at the launch of a N250 million Multipurpose Building at Bell Event Centre, adding that Dr. Adadevoh’s singular act of bravery and competence displayed in 2014 averted what could have been a major disaster in the health sector of Lagos State and the country as a whole.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, said it was very unfortunate and sad that the ebola virus claimed her life, adding that the building project tallies with the Association’s vision of supporting education in the spirit of corporate social responsibility.
In his words: “It is noteworthy that the Multipurpose Building is designed to honour and inspire people, whose lives and activities demonstrate an enduring commitment to qualities associated with good character, integrity, credibility and transparent life”.
He reminded the guests that late Dr. Adadevoh, an alumni of Queen’s School, was a Lead Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist who diagnosed and contained Nigeria’s first-ever Ebola patient, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who flew into Lagos from Liberia to attend a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States.
According to him, despite the pressure to release Mr. Sawyer, Dr. Adadevoh resisted “for the greater public good” to save millions of Nigerians and other nationals, noting that through her effort and in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, all the Ebola cases were traced from the index patient.
The Guest Lecturer and Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo in her lecture entitled “Making a Difference: The Legacy of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh The Ebola Amazon and Heroine of Our Time”, described Adadevoh as a stable, credible, courageous, kind and patriotic human being born with brainpower.
Adefisayo said the heroine got her legacy from home as a daughter of one of Nigeria’s youngest professors and a granddaughter of late Herbert Macaulay, stressing that it was because of her that Nigeria was able to make adequate preparations to guard against the pandemic just as Lagos was also better prepared for COVID-19.
She charged individuals present to change the world in their little corner as role models by influencing the younger ones to be their best by living honest and decent lives.
In her welcome address, the National President of the Association, Dr. Taiwo Adamson, said the multipurpose building will comprise of an information technology hub, a skills acquisition training arena, student refectory, conference and two meeting rooms and a corridor of honour with a hall of fame.
