Picture: Prof Joseph Ugboaja in red cap flanked by Dr Salma Anas ( left), others.
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State has hosted the Special Adviser on Health to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas who was at the permanent site of the health institution with her team on a walking visit.
In a presentation to give an insight of what has been going on in the teaching hospitalin at the permanent site since he took over, the NAUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof.Joseph Ugboaja (OON) on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at the ICT Center told the visitors that his administration has the vision to make NAUTH rank among the top three teaching hospitals in Nigeria by the year 2030.
He disclosed that his assumption of office as the CMD of NAUTH was on August 10, 2021and that since then he has continued to apply innovative ideas to achieve the set objective.
The CMD anchored his presentation on the theme: “Making of New NAUTH, a Product of Vision, Hardwork, Sacrifice and Teamwork.
Prof Ugboaja who expressed delight that Dr Anas honoured his invitation revealed to the visitors the nine pillars that drive his developmental efforts in the new NAUTH.
He named the pillars as corporate governance; infrastructure development; equipment; research and innovation; human capital; partnerships; prudent financial management and staff welfare.
The CMD told the audience that those pillars were intentionally crafted with the necessary adjustments in the positive direction to achieve the best.
He disclosed to the visitors that the progress made at the NAUTH under his watch between 2021 and 2025 has been the collective efforts of the management who he said had continued to work without relenting for the health institution to achieve its set goal of becoming among the top three in Nigeria by the year 2030.
“We have moved almost ninety five percent of the hospital units to the permanent site and before the end of the year, 2025 all the units will be at the new site which will complete the first phase of implementation of our plan.
“The next phase will be to build centers of excellence and establish training school. We are building NAUTH to be the largest hospital in Africa at 5,000 beds.
“People laughed when we said in 2021 that we would move to the permanent site in the next four years, but we were able to move the hospital to its permanent site from 350 beds to 1,500 beds today because we are resolute.
“But here we are. Now that we have gotten our structures, we would even move faster in upgrading the hospital, “the CMD assured.
He further disclosed that one of their uttermost goals would be to convert the institution to a center of tourism and center of excellence.
The CMD added that the maiden visit of the Special Adviser to the President on Health meant a lot to the institution and was highly appreciated.
He articulated some of the challenges in the institution that needed presidential intervention.
He requested that the institution would like Mr President to further assist them by appropriating more funds and increase human resource to enable the hospital to achieve its laudable and set objective.
In her response, Dr Anas who described the level of development at the NAUTH permanent site as amazing commended Prof Ugboaja’s efforts and his transformation agenda team.
She said that the transformation was a clear demonstration of Prof Ugboaja’s ability to achieve the goal he has set for the health institution and in line with Mr President’s renewed hope health agenda.
“The upgraded facilities have made the institution a high class teaching hospital in Africa, “she added.
She said that part of the things Mr President vowed to do was to revive medical tourism in Nigeria.
“When you look at the level of transformation of this hospital today, I think it is possible for us to achieve that initiative (medical tourism) here in the South East especially in NAUTH.
“It’s a thing of joy that these are government-owned resources. Having seen that the community, including the Igwe supports the growth of the institution, this truly demonstrates partnership we need, collaboration with community and effective utilization of government resources for the intended purposes, “she said.
Dr Anas further lauded Prof Ugboaja’s achievements in a very short space of time as the NAUTH CMD despite challenges.
She reaffirmed Mr President’s commitment to ensuring quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
According to her, healthcare remained an integral part of national development in President Tinubu’s administration.
Dr Anas promised to work with Prof Ugboaja to help NAUTH achieve its set goal to become a medical tourism in all areas her help would be needed.
She told her host that the First Lady would be excited with the Mother and Child unit which she said remained the largest in Nigeria.
“We will work together in collaboration with the Federal Minister of Health and I will play my role of advocacy and resource mobilization to see that the hospital continues to develop, “she concluded.
