Tinubu to Afreximbank: We must give Nigerians excellent healthcare

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his administration’s commitment to providing excellent healthcare facilities for all Nigerians, saying that it will continue to prioritize domestic and foreign direct investments in the sector.

He gave the assurance at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday at a meeting with Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), accompanied by a delegation from King’s College Hospital, London (KCH). 

President Tinubu welcomed the partnership between Afreximbank and KCH London to establish a first-rate healthcare facility in Abuja, called Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), scheduled for completion in 2025. 

He said: ”We welcome this significant step towards investing in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. This facility is a great commitment to humanity. We are open and ready to assist this project in every way possible. 

”Africa is in need, and Nigeria is committed to the needs of its people. Putting people’s welfare first is putting healthcare first. The training and development of our people are our priorities, and we thank KCH, known for its global reputation, for partnering with us. 

”Out of every five black persons, one is a Nigerian. We are racing against time to meet our obligations to our people. This project will further strengthen our long-term vision for the healthcare of our people. We are determined to succeed, and whatever you need in order for us to achieve this project, I want to assure you, we will do it.”

The President emphasized that the continent cannot afford to remain behind in the quality and accessibility of its healthcare system.

He, therefore, asked Afreximbank not to relent in its commitment to investing in projects that will ensure that Africa possesses the expertise and resources to meet its own healthcare needs.

In his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, explained that the Bank and KCH are also collaborating on building a medical and nursing school alongside AMCE, in line with the administration’s commitment to expanding the training of healthcare professionals in the country. 

”Your Excellency, you will recall that in October 2023, you approved an initiative to unlock Nigeria’s healthcare value chain and appointed a coordinator. We have worked in the last few months to identify various work streams. 

”I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that today, we signed an MoU with the President of Afreximbank for a $1 billion facility to finance a credit and equity contribution pool for private sector investors interested in investing in Nigeria’s health sector value chain,” he said. 

The Nigerian-born President of the Bank, Professor Oramah, pledged the Bank’s commitment to developing quality health infrastructure on the continent, and contributing substantially to the reduction of medical tourism out of Africa, while promoting intra-Africa trade, and creating jobs in the country and continent.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Gaga as Executive Director, Corporate Services, at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).

Mr. Gaga, a lawyer, has gained over 25 years of experience in the banking sector as well as in legal services.

Prior to his appointment, he was the Board Secretary and Legal Adviser at NEXIM Bank.

A statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) said that the president expects that Mr. Gaga will bring to his new role renewed zeal and diligence to enhance NEXIM’s mandate of providing finance, risk mitigation services, accurate trade and market information, as well as export advisory services to Nigerians in full support of the economic development agenda of his administration.