Get Guardian on GoogleLagos State Deputy Governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has donated ₦80 million to St Agnes Medical Centre, Maryland, Lagos, to support equipment upgrade and full operationalisation.
The donation was announced by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, who represented Hamzat at the 2026 Thanksgiving and Bazaar of St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, where he also served as chairman of the occasion.
At the event, themed “Harvest of Grace and Gratitude,” Hamzat described the annual Thanksgiving and Bazaar as more than a religious gathering, noting that it represents a celebration of faith, gratitude, fellowship and community, while providing an opportunity to mobilise resources for projects that positively affect people’s lives.
He said this year’s edition was particularly significant because the parish dedicated its fundraising efforts to supporting the development of a new medical centre and providing the equipment required to strengthen healthcare delivery.
The ₦80 million donation will support the provision of medical equipment, including an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), as the facility prepares to expand its services to the wider community.
The announcement reportedly drew excitement among parishioners, who welcomed the contribution towards making the medical centre fully operational.
The medical centre grew out of a modest parish clinic established in 1996. Its development reflects the Catholic community’s efforts to expand access to healthcare within Maryland and surrounding areas.
Although the facility has been constructed, completed and blessed, with skeletal services already in operation, it requires additional medical equipment and staffing to become fully operational.
Its facilities include an eye care unit, diagnostic and monitoring unit, maternal and child health centre, wards, consulting rooms, rehabilitation unit and emergency response unit.
The planned multiple-bed ICU is expected to provide critical care services to residents of Maryland, Anthony, Ikeja, Ojota and neighbouring communities. It is also expected to reduce the need to transfer critically ill patients to distant hospitals, helping to address delays that can be costly in emergency situations.
The donation comes against the backdrop of Hamzat’s recently unveiled vision for Lagos ahead of the 2027 governorship election, in which he outlined plans to improve healthcare delivery across the state.
Among the plan is an expansion of the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme, from its current 1.4 million enrollees to a target of covering one in every three Lagos residents.
His healthcare agenda also includes completing the Massey Children’s Hospital, Ojo General Hospital and Somolu General Hospital projects, while expanding capacity across nine general hospitals.
Other priorities include strengthening primary healthcare centres, increasing the number of facilities providing round-the-clock services and improving the training and welfare of healthcare workers.
The ₦80 million donation represents a direct intervention in support of community healthcare, complementing the broader focus on improving access to medical services.
Speaking at the event, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Theodore Martinos, said the fundraising initiative was aimed at providing the medical equipment needed to enhance the facility.
He said: “We need to use the gifts God has blessed us with, which are the fruits of our labour, to supply medical equipment needed to enhance our medical facility, the St Agnes Medical Centre.”
Although established by the Catholic community, the medical centre is expected to serve people across religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.
Its location and planned services give it the potential to benefit not only members of the parish but also residents of Maryland and surrounding communities who require accessible healthcare.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Harvest Committee, Odion Aleobua said, “the donation represents the best demonstration of KOH’s drive to actualize the campaign very early in the day. With these funds the Church is confident of operationalizing this exemplary medical centre project as soon as possible.”
