Africa took a monumental leap toward healthcare sovereignty today with the official opening of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria.
Developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, the US$300 million tertiary care facility is the largest specialised private hospital in West Africa. It signals a new era of world-class healthcare for Africans, delivered by Africans, on African soil.
Graced by Nigeria’s Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, standing in for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and attended by top government and private sector officials, the AMCE opening marks more than the commissioning of a hospital—it is a powerful symbol of Africa’s commitment to ending medical dependence on the Global North.
AMCE Abuja provides cutting-edge services in oncology, haematology, cardiology, and general medical care. With 170 beds, and plans to scale to 500, it hosts the largest stem cell laboratory in West Africa, state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic facilities, and specialised equipment previously unavailable in the region, such as an 18 MeV cyclotron and 3 Tesla MRI.
Speaking at the event, President Tinubu (via Vice President Shettima) hailed the facility as a transformative step: “We are not just unveiling a hospital—we are declaring that Africa will no longer accept medical vulnerability as destiny. AMCE proves that with the right partnerships and vision, African institutions can deliver world-class health solutions.”
President Benedict Oramah, Afreximbank’s visionary leader and AMCE Board Chair, reflected on his own life-threatening illness treated in London and how that experience birthed the idea of AMCE: “This centre represents our determination to build African solutions to African health challenges. We will not wait for help—we will lead.”
AMCE’s significance extends beyond Nigeria. At a time when Africans spend between US$6–10 billion annually seeking treatment abroad, the centre is poised to stem this outflow, provide access to care within the continent, and support the health sovereignty Africa urgently needs.
With its clinical and research partnerships with King’s College Hospital and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, AMCE is building a pan-African health ecosystem that includes training, research, innovation, and treatment under one roof. A medical school, residential research institutes, and a second hospital facility are already in the pipeline, with support from the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
AMCE’s leadership emphasized its broader continental mission. “This is not just a Nigerian hospital—it’s Africa’s hospital,” said Brian Deaver, AMCE’s CEO. “From early diagnosis to long-term disease management, from training medical professionals to conducting clinical research, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, more self-reliant continent.”
In support of research and innovation, President Oramah also announced the creation of the Africa Life Sciences Foundation, calling on African governments, philanthropists, banks, and corporations to invest in the health future of the continent.
With increasing burdens from non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular illness, AMCE is more than a facility—it’s a commitment to tackle Africa’s health challenges with dignity, urgency, and excellence.
As Africa looks inward to build systems that work for its people, the AMCE stands as a continental beacon of what’s possible when African solutions drive African development.
