Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has made a clarion call for deeper private sector involvement in the country’s health sector transformation, emphasizing that government alone cannot bridge the healthcare deficit.
Speaking at the commissioning of the state-of-the-art Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu, Shettima described the facility as a critical boost to Nigeria’s emergency healthcare infrastructure.
“This trauma centre is more than a building—it is a lifeline, a symbol of our commitment to saving lives in an increasingly complex society where trauma care is no longer optional,” the Vice President said.
He revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved a comprehensive Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which includes the establishment of 8,800 new Primary Healthcare Centres and the upgrading of tertiary institutions for trauma, oncology, and infectious disease care.
In a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Shettima stressed that the private sector’s collaboration is pivotal to sustainable healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
The event, which also marked the 80th birthday of businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, saw an outpouring of commendations for his generosity.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, hailed Adegunwa as a trailblazer in philanthropy. “At 80, he remains an astute entrepreneur and a selfless giver. This trauma centre is a legacy for generations to come,” he said.
The N2 billion centre—donated and fully equipped by Adegunwa—far exceeded its original N800 million budget. According to Dr. Kunle Hassan, Chairman of the Teaching Hospital’s Board, the facility will vastly improve emergency care in Ogun State and beyond.
“This centre was designed to meet global standards in trauma response and management,” Dr. Hassan said.
The Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Adéwálé Àjàyí, praised the donor’s humanitarian spirit and used the occasion to call for increased federal presence in the region.
Adegunwa, in an emotional address, recounted a promise he made at 56 to give back to his community. “This centre is a dream fulfilled. I’m grateful to everyone who supported this vision.”
The newly inaugurated trauma centre is expected to serve as a model for public-private partnerships in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
