Abuja, Nigeria – In a landmark event aimed at transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday commissioned the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, describing it as a symbol of African resilience and a major leap toward making Nigeria a global healthcare destination.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the inauguration ceremony, President Tinubu highlighted the significance of the initiative, calling it more than a physical structure but “a bold rejection of medical vulnerability as destiny.”
The newly unveiled facility is a joint project of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and King’s College Hospital, London, and is equipped with cutting-edge technologies including West Africa’s largest stem cell laboratory. Future plans include a full-fledged teaching hospital, nursing school, and residential housing for medical staff.
Vice President Kashim Shettima cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the African Medical Centre of Excellence, a $400 million health facility in Abuja.
$2.2 Billion Health Sector Commitment Underway
President Tinubu also used the occasion to announce the progress of his administration’s Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023. According to him, the initiative has already secured over $2.2 billion in funding commitments aimed at revamping over 17,000 primary healthcare centres, training 120,000 frontline health workers, and doubling national health insurance coverage within three years.
“These are not mere aspirations but milestones already in progress,” he emphasized.
The President also cited key reforms since taking office, including signing an Executive Order to unlock the healthcare value chain, boosting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthening regulatory institutions, and improving access to medical diagnostics.
A Centre of Global Standards
Speaking on the vision of AMCE, Tinubu praised Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah for his foresight and passion for African solutions to African challenges.
“This project is a manifestation of what becomes possible when institutions tackle African problems with African solutions,” he stated.
He added that the government would continue to support such strategic investments, noting that no modern hospital can thrive without parallel infrastructure. He pointed to the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, which supports critical investments in roads, electricity, and connectivity around health facilities.
“With a medical and nursing school in the pipeline and partnerships with international institutions like King’s College London and the University of Wisconsin, AMCE will train a new generation of African health professionals who will thrive locally rather than migrate abroad,” the President said.
Private Sector Collaboration and International Praise
Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, noted that the AMCE is a $400 million private sector-driven project that could not have come at a better time for Africa’s healthcare transformation.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, praised the facility as a milestone that could significantly reduce outbound medical tourism, turning Nigeria into a destination for high-quality medical care.
A Legacy of Healing
In an emotional address, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, recounted how his personal health journey inspired the vision behind AMCE. “This centre is not just about top-tier medical care; it’s about transforming healthcare in Africa,” he said.
Other dignitaries who delivered goodwill messages included Tanzania’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jenista Mhagama, Prof. Clive Kay, Chief Executive of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Dr. Tajudeen Raji of the Africa Centre for Disease Control.
With the opening of AMCE, Nigeria takes a bold stride toward healthcare sovereignty, laying the foundation for a healthier, wealthier Africa.
