Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Advanced Medical Services Limited (Medserve), Dr Tolulope Adewole, has emphasised the need for impact-driven investments in Nigeria’s health sector to drive national prosperity.

Adewole, in his paper at the sixth yearly Arthur Mbanefo Lecture Series, underscored the pivotal relationship between robust health systems and sustainable economic development.

In the lecture titled: “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation: The role of impact investments and sustainable financing in Nigeria,” held at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Centre (AMDRC) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Adewole noted that investing in health is not merely a moral imperative, but a strategic economic move that can catalyse productivity and national development.

He said: “Robust healthcare infrastructure is essential for a nation’s economic growth and development. By investing in health, we are not only improving the well-being of our citizens but also creating a more productive workforce that can drive economic progress.”

Adewole’s call for strategic capital allocation to healthcare was echoed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who emphasised the university’s commitment to harnessing technology to advance health and economic progress.

Ogunsola, a medical microbiologist, noted that a healthy population is essential for national progress and advocated sustainable funding, cross-sector collaboration, and recognition of healthcare as a critical economic asset.

She praised Mbanefo for his transformative philanthropy through AMDRC, which has reshaped the university’s leadership perspective.

The vice chancellor also commended the Chairman and Group Managing Director of Sahara Group, Kolawole Adesina, for his exemplary leadership and recent donation of a simulation laboratory to the institution.

She expressed gratitude to the AMDRC Board, led by Ernest Ebi, for their steadfast support in sustaining the centre’s vibrancy since its official transfer to the university in 2020.

Ebi, in his welcome address, reflected on the remarkable legacy of Mbanefo, Nigeria’s first Chartered Accountant and a distinguished statesman.

He highlighted Mbanefo’s enduring contributions and the pivotal role of the centre as a hub for innovation.

The event was chaired by Adesina, who brought a private sector perspective to the occasion, underscoring the role of the corporate world in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare architecture.