The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Olukayode Pitan, said the bank has provided over N100 billion in funding for the development of the country’s health sector within in the last five years.
Speaking at the groundbreaking event for the African Centre for Medical Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, he said that the project was conceived as a result of the strategic alliance between African Export-Import Bank and Kings College Hospital London to develop medical centres of excellence across Africa.
He expressed gratitude to President Muhammdu Buhari for creating an enabling environment for the growth of BoI and other similar institutions across the country adding that the support had given the bank the capacity to take part in a transformational project such as this which is aligned to the bank’s mandate.
Essentially, the AMCE facility located along the Apo Mechanic-Kabusa road is being developed by the African Export-Import Bank in partnership with Kings College Hospital, London; Bank of Industry; GE Health Care; Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the African Finance Corporation and seeks to provide world-class care to both low and high-income patient groups across the continent.
Construction of the first phase of the Abuja AMCE is scheduled to be completed in 30 months, Pitan said, adding that entire project will be implemented in four phases over a six-year period, starting off with a 170-bed specialist hospital before expanding to a 500-bed facility.
He said, “Consequently, we have supported the sector with over N100 billion in the last five year. On behalf of the investors in this project, AfreximBank, BoI, GE Health Care, NNPC, African Finance Corporation, we are pleased to be part of this transformational project that will literarily transform the provision of health care services not only in Nigeria and in Africa.
“It is our hope that the dividend that will come from this project will not only be in terms of a healthy nation but the financial success of this project to enable us to support similar projects.”
The President of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said the facility would also offer education and clinical research services with a view to building leading talent and becoming a top tier-level medical facility.
He added that the AMCE will not only enhance access to healthcare services for 50,000 people every year but also provide 3,000 jobs during its construction and operational phases.
