The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Foundation has donated and installed a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) in Nnewi, Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria, in a move aimed at improving access to advanced diagnostic healthcare services in the region.
The MRI facility was officially commissioned and handed over at a ceremony held at the hospital on Friday, attended by government officials, healthcare professionals, traditional rulers and political stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Bashir Ojulari, described the project as a strategic investment in healthcare delivery and diagnostic capacity for millions of Nigerians.
Represented by the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, Ojulari said the installation would support early disease detection, faster clinical intervention and improved patient care across the South-East and neighbouring regions.
“Today marks a milestone achievement as NNPC Limited commissions and officially hands over equipment that is critical to optimal healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, the intervention reflects the company’s broader corporate social responsibility agenda and commitment to strengthening public institutions beyond the energy sector.
Nigeria’s healthcare system continues to face major challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, shortages of medical equipment, funding constraints and the migration of healthcare professionals abroad.
Ojulari said the new MRI system would reduce the need for patients to travel long distances in search of specialised diagnostic services, lowering costs and easing the burden on families seeking medical care.
The installed MRI system includes supporting infrastructure such as radio-frequency shielding systems, chillers, backup power supply and specialised imaging accessories. It also comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and training for radiographers, radiologists and technical personnel to ensure sustainable operations.
Arukwe said the project directly addresses gaps in healthcare access and diagnostic services identified across many underserved communities in Nigeria.
Citing a 2024 Nigeria Health Watch report, she noted that more than 250,000 Nigerians die annually due to inadequate access to healthcare services.
“What NNPC Limited through its Foundation has achieved today is significantly addressing these inadequacies through the MRI installation,” she said.
She added that the equipment would not only improve patient care but also serve as a training platform for future medical professionals.
Timely intervention
The Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Professor Joseph Ugboaja, welcomed the donation, describing it as a timely intervention that aligns with the Nigerian government’s healthcare reform agenda.
He said the MRI facility would significantly improve healthcare delivery for residents of Anambra State and the wider South-East region.
“Our vision is to be among the best teaching hospitals in Nigeria,” Ugboaja said, while assuring that the hospital would ensure proper maintenance and sustainability of the equipment.
Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, also commended the NNPC Foundation for the intervention, describing the MRI installation as a major contribution to strengthening specialist healthcare services in the state and the wider South-East region.
Former Anambra State Governor Virgy Etiaba and the state chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Emma Anosike, also praised the initiative, describing it as a major boost to quality healthcare access in the region.
The event was attended by representatives of teaching hospitals across south-eastern Nigeria, officials of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, members of the Anambra State government and community leaders.
