President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to overhauling Nigeria’s healthcare system, describing the unveiling of the Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja as a turning point for medical advancement across the continent.
The $300 million world-class hospital, initiated by Afreximbank in partnership with King’s College Hospital London, the Bank of Industry, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), is focused on treating non-communicable diseases, including cancer, heart conditions, and blood disorders.
While unveiling the facility, President Tinubu said the facility symbolizes Africa’s refusal to accept medical vulnerability.
“We are not just unveiling bricks and steel but a collective determination to chart a new course for African healthcare,” he said.
He praised Afreximbank’s President, Prof. Benedict Oramah, for demonstrating bold leadership and vision, saying, “This is what becomes possible when institutions confront African challenges with African solutions.”
Highlighting his administration’s reforms, Tinubu said the government had unlocked over $2.2 billion in health sector commitments through an Executive Order and the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain.
“A world-class hospital cannot function on a dirt road, and no MRI machine works without stable electricity,” he acknowledged, while reaffirming government support for the AMCE, not as charity but as a strategic investment in national capacity.
“This centre is not just a place to treat the sick—it’s where future generations of African medical professionals will be trained. Nations do not rise by miracles. They rise by vision and sacrifice,” he added.
Noting that Nigeria takes center stage in African healthcare transformation, President Tinubu emphasized that AMCE is more than a hospital, it is a strategic step toward medical independence, professional capacity development, and a healthier future for generations to come.
Afreximbank Chief, Prof. Oramah shared a personal journey that inspired the creation of the AMCE, saying, “Twelve years ago, I survived a life-threatening illness. That experience, combined with our institutional vision, gave birth to this centre.
“Now, three years into construction, we open a place that represents hope, sovereignty, and a future free of medical tourism.”
He added that AMCE houses cutting-edge facilities, including Africa’s largest biobank and a cyclotron unit for advanced cancer diagnostics, with an expected patient volume of 350,000 over five years.
He credited the Tinubu administration for resolving key obstacles that sped up the hospital’s completion and noted that 300 professionals had already joined the project, demonstrating the potential to reverse brain drain.
AMCE’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Deaver, described the hospital as a beacon of African innovation and collaboration, noting, “This project is a strategic partnership that includes Afreximbank’s financing, King’s College Hospital’s clinical leadership, and the Nigerian government’s steadfast support.
“It’s proof that Africa doesn’t need to depend on external systems to access quality care, it can build and operate them here.”
Deaver emphasized that the centre is equipped to deliver modern, patient-centred care, integrating engineering, technology, and top-tier medical expertise. “This facility is a shift in mindset. It proves that world-class care can be homegrown,” he said.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, called the centre a “scientific marvel” that is expected to help Nigeria tackle non-communicable diseases and reduce outbound medical tourism.
“This project lives up to its name as a Centre of Excellence and will help retain both patients and medical expertise in-country,” he noted.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) echoed similar sentiments, saying the AMCE will introduce critical innovations in medical practice and conserve the billions lost to medical tourism annually.
The Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, described AMCE as a groundbreaking initiative that will break barriers and establish best medical practices across the continent. He assured the African Union’s commitment to mobilizing support for the success of the initiative.
Representing the Tanzanian President, the country’s Minister of Health commended Nigeria and Afreximbank for the bold step, noting that the facility will significantly boost capacity development for African health professionals.
To further advance medical research, Afreximbank also launched the Africa Life Sciences Foundation with an initial $75 million commitment, targeting $600 million to support research into neglected diseases such as sickle cell anemia.
Strategic partners in the AMCE project include King’s College Hospital, pharmaceutical giant Novartis, and Christie’s Oncology Centre.
