The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, has officially inaugurated the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria, a $300m state-of-the-art medical facility set to redefine healthcare delivery in Africa.
The unveiling ceremony, which marked a pivotal milestone in Africa’s quest for healthcare sovereignty, was graced by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima. High-ranking government officials and private sector leaders, including the ministers of health, finance, and foreign affairs, as well as representatives from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, NNPCL, and the Bank of Industry, were also in attendance.
Strategically located in Abuja and designed to meet global healthcare standards, AMCE aims to curb the annual $6–10bn spent by Africans seeking medical treatment abroad. The facility offers world-class services in oncology, haematology, cardiology, and general medicine. It currently houses 170 beds with plans to expand to 500 in the next phase.
“This is more than just a building,” said Vice President Shettima, delivering the President’s speech. “It is a symbol of Africa’s determination to end medical vulnerability and lead in world-class healthcare. With the largest stem cell lab in West Africa and a planned medical school, AMCE is a healing centre and a training ground for future generations.”
The centre’s facilities include five theatres, three catheterisation laboratories, a 20-bed intensive care unit, six critical care unit beds, and 20 chemotherapy chairs.
It hosts cutting-edge technology, including a brachytherapy machine with an iridium source, an 18MeV cyclotron, 3 Tesla MRI machines, and high-resolution CT scanners, many of which are unique in the region.
Afreximbank President and Chairman of AMCE’s Board, Prof. Benedict Oramah, emphasised the transformative vision behind the project, reflecting on a personal health emergency that underscored the continent’s healthcare gaps. “This centre is a declaration that Africa is taking control of its healthcare future,” he said. “It is a catalyst for clinical excellence, research, and innovation.”
The AMCE will also serve as a hub for medical education and research, fostering collaboration with institutions such as The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and other global partners.
The next development phase includes an additional 350-bed hospital, medical and nursing schools, residential quarters, and advanced research centres, positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for specialist care and innovation.
AMCE CEO Brian Deaver described the centre as “a healthcare revolution for Africa”, combining international expertise with local talent development to build sustainable medical capacity.
The facility is expected to significantly reduce the continent’s dependency on foreign healthcare systems, a vulnerability made evident during the COVID-19 pandemic and past health crises such as Ebola.
The launch also coincides with Nigeria’s broader health sector reforms, which include $2.2bn in new investments through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative.
Afreximbank also announced the launch of the Africa Life Sciences Foundation, designed to mobilise capital for research and innovation. Oramah called on African governments, financial institutions, and global partners to support the initiative.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust CEO, Prof. Clive Kay, reaffirmed the commitment to supporting AMCE through world-class training and clinical partnerships.
“This collaboration aims to develop a sustainable model of care that directly meets the needs of African patients,” he said.
Now open to patients, healthcare professionals, and partners, AMCE stands as a symbol of what is possible when African institutions unite to deliver bold, visionary solutions to longstanding challenges in the health sector.
