By Seun Ibiyemi
The NNPC Foundation has strengthened Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure with the commissioning and handover of a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State.
The intervention, carried out under the social investment programme of the NNPC Foundation, is expected to significantly improve access to advanced diagnostic imaging services for millions of residents across the South-East, including Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States, as well as neighbouring Delta State.
Prior to the installation, patients in the region often faced long waiting periods, high diagnostic costs and the burden of travelling long distances to access functional MRI facilities.
Health experts say the new equipment is expected to ease these challenges and improve early disease detection and treatment outcomes.
The project included the full installation, calibration and commissioning of the MRI machine, alongside supporting infrastructure such as RF shielding systems, chillers, backup UPS systems, ventilation units, oxygen monitoring systems, intercom facilities, CCTV installations and specialised imaging accessories to ensure optimal performance.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held at the Igwe Orizu ICT Centre, NAUTH Permanent Site, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the intervention as a strategic investment in healthcare access and national development.
Represented by the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, Ojulari said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to building sustainable systems and improving human capital outcomes.
He noted that access to quality healthcare remains central to human dignity and economic productivity, stressing that the organisation’s social investments are designed to complement its core energy mandate while strengthening national institutions.
Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, commended the donation, describing it as a major boost to healthcare delivery and diagnostic capacity in the region.
He said the facility would enhance safe, accurate and timely diagnosis for patients across the South-East, adding that the intervention demonstrates the value of public-private collaboration in addressing critical infrastructure gaps.
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Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Business Services of NNPC Limited, Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to impactful social investments that improve the lives of Nigerians.
She said the company, over the years, has maintained consistent support for national development through infrastructure projects, educational sponsorships and community-focused interventions aligned with its values of integrity, excellence and sustainability.
The Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, praised the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would eliminate the need for patients to travel long distances for advanced diagnostic services.
He assured that the hospital would ensure effective utilisation of the equipment for the benefit of patients, noting that the donation reflects a practical demonstration of corporate social responsibility as a life-saving intervention rather than a symbolic gesture.
With the installation, stakeholders say the South-East region has taken a significant step forward in improving access to modern diagnostic healthcare, reducing medical tourism within Nigeria, and strengthening overall patient care outcomes.
