The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has lauded Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State for his vision, commitment and investments in the health sector.
Pate made the remark during the unveiling of the 350-bed Ibom International Hospital project in Uyo on Tuesday.
The minister said the project demonstrated how collaboration between the Federal Government and states could deliver sustainable development.
He noted that the healthcare infrastructure being developed by the Eno administration would position Akwa Ibom as a destination for world-class medical care.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish. Here in Akwa Ibom, we have a leader, a governor who has clarity of vision, doggedness, tenacity, commitment and passion for his people,” Pate said.
The minister added that Akwa Ibom’s investments in primary healthcare centres, health workers’ recruitment, retention programmes and residency training funds were laying a strong foundation for a robust health system.
He described the Ibom International Hospital project as the type of partnership needed to improve healthcare outcomes nationwide.
“The unveiling of this project is a key milestone. The facility has the potential to attract medical tourists from Nigeria, Africa and beyond,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Eno described the project as one of several initiatives being executed by his administration for the benefit of the people of Akwa Ibom and Nigeria.
He said the vision behind the hospital was rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Three, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing.
“The unveiling of this project is intended to achieve clarity of vision. The Ibom International Hospital is the flagship project of the state’s Medical Corridor Initiative.
“Our aspiration for the International Hospital is to make it one of Nigeria’s benchmarks for technology-driven, patient-centred healthcare,” Eno said.
Eno disclosed that the medical city spans about 100 hectares and will accommodate various healthcare-related facilities, including specialised medical services, research, innovation and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
He added that the hospital was designed to provide world-class treatment in areas such as oncology, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, trauma care, orthopaedics and critical care.
The governor said the project was conceived to attract patients, healthcare professionals, research partners and investments from across Africa and beyond.
Dr. Ekem John, Commissioner for Health, described the unveiling as the birth of a new healthcare economy.
He said the state government had been planning since 2023 to build a resilient healthcare system capable of supporting the new medical city.
