A major healthcare milestone was recorded in Imo State on Saturday as Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, inaugurated a state-of-the-art 100-bed Mother and Child Centre at the Awo-Omamma General Hospital near Owerri. The hospital, named in her honour, was constructed by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

The facility was officially unveiled on her behalf by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, accompanied by top government officials. According to a statement by Desmond Utomwen, Special Adviser on Publicity and Strategic Communication to OSSAP-SDGs, the project is a significant step toward achieving Nigeria’s health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Equipped with modern healthcare amenities including operating theatres, general and private wards, intensive care units, delivery suites, emergency carts, ultrasound machines, and laboratories, the hospital is poised to drastically improve maternal and child health outcomes across Imo and neighbouring states.

Senator Tinubu, in her address, described the project as a reflection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare, especially to the most vulnerable. “We must continue to prioritise maternal and child healthcare as the foundation of a healthier, more prosperous society,” she said, urging women in nearby communities to take full advantage of the services and ensure community ownership of the centre.

Governor Hope Uzodimma applauded the federal government for what he called a “timely and strategic intervention,” emphasizing that the facility will strengthen Imo’s integrated health plan and reduce maternal and infant mortality. “Naming this centre after Senator Oluremi Tinubu is a tribute to her lifelong compassion and service,” he added.

Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, explained that the hospital is part of a national rollout to strengthen sub-national healthcare systems. She noted that while progress has been made, recent data from the Nigeria SDGs Progress Report 2024 shows maternal and child health indicators are still below target, calling for renewed advocacy on antenatal attendance and child immunisation.

The new hospital is expected to begin full operations within two to three months and will offer a broad range of services. The Imo State Government provided the land for the project, reflecting a productive federal-state partnership aimed at closing healthcare access gaps and improving outcomes for mothers and children.