Project Ekwueme is a flagship health sector special intervention initiative launched by Abia State governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti. It was conceived as a response to long-standing challenges in the delivery of primary healthcare within the state. The project aims to strengthen the foundation of the state’s health system through targeted, sustainable interventions. The name “Ekwueme”, meaning “one who keeps promises,” represents the solemn commitment by the current administration of Otti to fulfill his promises to Ndi Abia and restore public trust in the State Health system, and among Abians who had been serially betrayed in the past. The Primary Health Care component of this vision seeks to renovate, equip and optimise 200PHCs in 100days.
Project Ekwueme is structured in three strategic phases—Build, Equip, and Employ (BEE)—which together represent a comprehensive approach to revitalising the healthcare delivery chain:
Build: Involves the renovation and retrofitting of 200 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs), ensuring at least one functional PHC in each of the 184 political wards and 16 additional ones in underserved communities.
Equip: Focuses on providing the newly renovated facilities with essential medical equipment, diagnostic tools, furniture, and supplies necessary for effective service delivery.
Employ: Centres on recruiting and deploying qualified healthcare personnel—including doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers—to ensure that the facilities are adequately staffed.
In addition to PHC revitalisation, the project also includes the upgrade of three general hospitals—one per senatorial district—to serve as regional referral centres, thereby strengthening the continuum of care from primary to secondary levels. These hospitals are being equipped and remodelled to support emergency services, maternal and child health, and surgical procedures. It is also intended as “Proof of Concept” for the Abia Medical City.
A significant institutional reform embedded within Project Ekwueme is the transitioning of the Abia State School of Nursing into the Abia State College of Nursing Sciences. This development aims to enhance the quality and scope of nursing education in the state by elevating the institution to meet national accreditation standards, expand academic offerings, and increase the intake and training of nursing professionals. This transition is critical to addressing the human resource gap in the health sector and aligns with the broader objective of building a resilient, well-trained healthcare workforce.
The project was designed and initiated by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health and the Chairperson of the Abia Medical City Project. Supported by the State Ministry of Health, the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency (APHCDA), a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) comprising relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and technical consultants. The Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health is responsible for the overall coordination of the project.
Project Ekwueme serves as the foundational phase of the long-term Abia Medical City initiative, which envisions the establishment of a world-class quartenary and biomedical research hub in the region. With a strong focus on community engagement, data-driven planning, and sustainable systems development, Project Ekwueme is a model for integrated health reform and a crucial step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improved health outcomes for all residents of Abia State. It aligns with the policy direction of the Federal Government for Health in Nigeria and fulfills the audacious vision of Dr Alex Chioma Otti for Abians.
It is an unprecedented commitment of any Government at the subnational level to invest so much within such a short time in the State Health System. It is an intervention that should be studied more deeply and recommended not just to other State Governments but to other countries as part of a package intervention to speed up the revitalisation of Primary Health Care.
Closely related to these audacious interventions is the Abia Medical City Project: A Bold Leap into the Future of Healthcare and Wellness. This great intervention is unprecedented in the history of Healthcare delivery across Africa. It is now ready for ground breaking, nearly one year after His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, approved a final draft of the Abia Medical City (AMC) concept note. He has also secured a monumental milestone: the official flag-off by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which was initially scheduled for May 23, 2025.
This historic project will mark the birth of one of the most ambitious healthcare projects on the African continent and a bold move that reimagines Nigeria’s place in global health and wellness.
What is Abia Medical City?
The Abia Medical City Project is a landmark wholistic Health intervention, providing state of the art Medical Care in a State of the Art ambience and competing favourably with any such facility in the world. It is a development initiative revolutionalising not just the health ecosystem but the development ecosystem too. Spanning about 200 hectares, the City is designed to become Africa’s premier hub for health services, medical research, wellness tourism, and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
It is modelled after global benchmarks such as the Dubai Healthcare City, the Texas Medical Centre etc and will offer an integrated solution to Nigeria’s long-standing healthcare challenges, massive brain-drain, poor infrastructure, and the more than $1 billion annual spend on outbound medical tourism. With specialised focus areas including oncology, cardiology, nephrology/urology, and orthopaedics, the City is set to reverse the flow of health tourism, attract international patients, and retain top medical talent.
A vision beyond healthcare
The AMC is built on a foundation of holistic well-being. The project blends state-of-the-art infrastructure: hospitals, research and development centres, pharmaceutical production units, and lifestyle-focused residential areas. It includes wellness centres, fertility and dental clinics, health-tech innovation hubs, digital diagnostics, hospitality, retail spaces, and green parks.
As the global wellness economy surges towards a projected $8.5 trillion by 2027, the AMC is perfectly timed to position Nigeria as a continental leader in integrated, patient-centred, and innovation-driven healthcare.
Economic catalyst
This project isn’t just about health alone, it is an engine for development. AMC will generate thousands of jobs, attract foreign direct investment, deepen local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and serve as a model for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure delivery. Through collaboration with existing institutions and global health organisations, the City aims to become a centre of excellence for medical research and training.
Inclusive, accessible, and smart
Importantly, the Abia Medical City isn’t designed for the elite alone. It will be inclusive, made accessible through health insurance, endowment schemes, and targeted interventions for underserved communities. Backed by enabling legislation, the project is structured for long-term sustainability and transparency.
Strategic partnerships driving success
The AMC provides opportunity for collaboration with federal agencies, private sector investors, diaspora health professionals, development partners like the World Bank and WHO, and academic institutions. With proposed designation as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Medical City is expected to enjoy business-friendly incentives that enhance its global competitiveness.
A legacy for the future
Abia Medical City reflects Governor Otti’s philosophy that quality healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege. It is an audacious effort to reverse decades of systemic neglect and to create a world where Nigerians no longer need to fly thousands of miles for specialist medical attention. It will also conserve foreign exchange, attract investments, create jobs, and attract more diaspora Nigerians home. As the foundation stone is laid this May, Nigeria and the world will witness a new chapter, where a state once overlooked is now pioneering a health revolution for Africa.
Onuorah is a public health analyst.
