“Tinubu Inaugurates $400M African Medical Centre of Excellence, Secures $2.2B for Nigeria’s Health Transformation”

In a milestone achievement for Nigeria’s health sector, President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, officially inaugurated the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja. Describing the initiative as a bold stride in the quest for a globally competitive healthcare system, Tinubu praised the AMCE as a monument to African innovation, resilience, and ambition. The state-of-the-art facility, developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, is set to position Nigeria as a leading healthcare hub on the continent.

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A Visionary Leap in African Healthcare Infrastructure

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony, President Tinubu emphasized that the AMCE was not just a building of steel and bricks, but a symbol of Africa’s refusal to accept medical mediocrity or vulnerability. “We are not gathered here because we lack hospitals. Far from it. We are here because the pursuit of excellence is endless,” he stated.

The AMCE will house West Africa’s largest stem cell laboratory and eventually expand to include a full-scale teaching hospital, a nursing school, and residential quarters for medical personnel. With international academic partnerships from King’s College London and the University of Wisconsin, the facility is primed to nurture a new generation of African medical professionals who will be trained, empowered, and retained within the continent.

$2.2 Billion Commitment to Health Sector Overhaul

The inauguration comes amid broader health sector reforms launched under the Tinubu administration. The President disclosed that his government has already secured over $2.2 billion in investment commitments through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which began in December 2023. This initiative targets the renovation of more than 17,000 primary healthcare centres, the training of 120,000 frontline health workers, and the doubling of national health insurance coverage within the next three years.

“These are not aspirations,” Tinubu declared. “These are milestones already in motion.”

In addition, the unveiling event also featured the announcement of a $75 million endowment fund by the African Life Sciences Foundation, backed by Afreximbank and the Bank of Industry. The fund aims to fuel medical research and innovation in Africa.

Healthcare Value Chain Reforms and Strategic Policy Direction

Since taking office, Tinubu has signed critical Executive Orders aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s healthcare value chain. These measures include the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which has bolstered local pharmaceutical production, enhanced regulatory mechanisms, and broadened access to diagnostic tools.

“We are investing in the roads, power, and connectivity that breathe life into health facilities,” Tinubu added, underlining the importance of parallel infrastructure development through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.

Afreximbank’s Legacy of Impact

President Tinubu also heaped praise on Afreximbank and its President, Professor Benedict Oramah, for envisioning and executing the AMCE project. “This is what becomes possible when institutions rise to African challenges with African solutions,” Tinubu noted.

In his remarks, Prof. Oramah recalled his personal experiences as a patient at King’s College Hospital in London, which motivated him to champion better healthcare systems for Africans. “This Centre is not just to provide top-notch medical care but also to catalyse the transformation of the African health sector,” he said.

Global and Continental Support for the AMCE

The event attracted international goodwill and endorsements. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, hailed the initiative as a significant step in curbing outbound medical tourism. “This hospital is an important institution that will attract people to Nigeria to access the same quality of care they would travel abroad for,” he remarked.

From the African Union, AFCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene applauded the AMCE for breaking barriers in medical excellence. He pledged full AU support to mobilize partner institutions across the continent for the project’s long-term success.

Representatives from the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the Tanzanian government similarly commended the AMCE for its groundbreaking contribution to Africa’s healthcare delivery. The Tanzanian Minister of Health praised Nigeria and Afreximbank for their foresight, stating, “This health facility will no doubt contribute significantly to improving the capacity of health professionals across Africa.”

Private Sector Mobilization and Strategic Value

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, highlighted the financial magnitude of the project, estimating its private sector investment at over $400 million. “Nigeria is today healthier and wealthier than before,” Edun noted, adding that such establishments will greatly reduce the continent’s dependence on foreign healthcare.

A New Era in Nigerian and African Healthcare

With the AMCE now operational, Nigeria takes a definitive step towards reclaiming its place as a leader in healthcare delivery in Africa. Tinubu’s remarks made clear that his administration views health not just as a service but as a strategic investment in the country’s economic and human capital development.

“This is not just a place to treat the sick,” Tinubu concluded. “It is a place to train for the future.”