To reduce maternal and child mortality in Nigeria, the Presidency has commissioned a 100-bed Renewed Hope Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Oko-Ita, Ibiono Ibom local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
The state-of-the-art medical facility, built and fully equipped by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), was inaugurated on Wednesday as part of the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Commissioned by Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the hospital is designed to provide high-quality maternal, neonatal, and paediatric care to underserved communities in Akwa Ibom and beyond.
Governor Eno commended President Tinubu for prioritising healthcare, especially for rural dwellers, and expressed optimism that the facility would significantly enhance the state’s capacity to deliver quality, affordable healthcare.
“Our President understands that health is wealth. The commissioning of this hospital speaks to his
commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the people, especially those in rural areas,” he said.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, the senior special assistant to the president on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, described the hospital as a bold symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being. “We are not merely unveiling a health facility,” she said. “We are reaffirming our collective commitment to delivering quality healthcare to the most vulnerable segments of our society: our mothers and children.”
She noted that the project aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises social inclusion and equitable development in government policy.
“This administration has demonstrated a clear understanding that inclusive development begins with prioritising the health and well-being of our people, especially at the grassroots,” she added.
Reflecting on the country’s 2024 SDGs Progress Report, Princess Orelope-Adefulire acknowledged the global challenges posed by the “Triple C” crises – Climate, Conflict, and COVID-19 – which have disrupted health systems, displaced communities, and diverted essential funding from development goals.
“Despite these challenges, today’s commissioning represents hope, progress, and the power of focused leadership,” she said.
The specialist hospital is fully equipped to provide women and children with safe, respectful, and dignified healthcare services.
Among its modern facilities are: operating theatres, recovery rooms, private and general wards, consultation rooms, laboratory and scanning rooms, an ultra-scan machine, vacuum extractor delivery sets, and an emergency cart with full complements.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire urged stakeholders in Akwa Ibom—including the state government, traditional rulers, health professionals, and local communities—to take ownership of the hospital and ensure its long-term sustainability.
She also lauded Governor Eno for providing an enabling environment for the project to thrive.
“This is what happens when the federal and state governments, communities, and development partners work together in unity of purpose,” she said. “This hospital is not just a structure—it is a promise fulfilled, and a foundation for a healthier generation.”
The 100-bed facility adds to the growing list of strategic interventions by OSSAP-SDGs across the country to accelerate Nigeria’s progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
With maternal and child mortality rates still posing serious public health challenges in Nigeria, the hospital in Ibiono Ibom offers a timely and practical solution, delivering not just hope, but access, equity, and impact.
