President Tinubu inaugurates African Medical Centre of Excellence

In a significant milestone for African innovation and Nigeria’s growing role as a global healthcare hub, President Bola Tinubu has officially inaugurated the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja.

The initiative is designed to revitalise over 17,000 primary healthcare centres, train 120,000 frontline health workers, and double the nation’s health insurance coverage within three years.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on behalf of the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima outlined the administration’s ongoing healthcare reforms and investments. These include the signing of an Executive Order to unlock the healthcare value chain and the launch of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).

According to the Vice President, these measures have spurred growth in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, enhanced regulatory frameworks, and broadened access to diagnostic services.

The AMCE is also set to house the largest stem cell laboratory in West Africa and will expand to include a teaching hospital, nursing school, and residential facilities for medical staff.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, remarked that the establishment of the Afreximbank-supported AMCE marks a new era in which Nigeria will be both healthier and more prosperous.

Also speaking at the event, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank, Professor Benedict Oramah, described the launch as a testament to the power of service to others. He noted that one of his key contributions to the continent was supporting Afreximbank in implementing its robust healthcare strategy. With the backing of Star Alliance, King’s College Hospital in London, and over a decade of experience in the healthcare sector, he said, the African Medical Centre of Excellence is now open in Abuja.

The event comes on the heels of Nigeria securing over $2.2 billion in health sector investment commitments under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, introduced by the Tinubu administration in December 2023.