The Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, Foundation has strengthened Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure with the donation of a state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, system to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, NOH, Dala, Kano State.
The MRI machine, which was officially commissioned and handed over at a ceremony held at the hospital in Kano on Thursday, is expected to significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic, neurological, trauma, musculoskeletal and gynaecological conditions, while reducing the burden on patients who previously had to travel long distances for advanced diagnostic services.
According to NNPC Ltd.’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the intervention is part of the company’s broader commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare and strengthening medical infrastructure across the country.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., represented by the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the donation aligns with the company’s strategic objective of contributing meaningfully to national development through impactful social investments.
She noted that NNPC Limited remains committed to implementing sustainable interventions that create measurable value for communities across Nigeria, adding that the MRI donation would help address critical healthcare challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, limited medical equipment and the growing demand for specialised healthcare services.
Arukwe described the project as a timely intervention that would enhance the capacity of the hospital to provide advanced diagnostic services and improve healthcare outcomes for patients in Kano and neighbouring states.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Ltd., Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe, represented by the Executive Director, Programme Management at NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Rose Okonkwo, said the company’s role extends beyond oil and gas production to delivering tangible benefits that improve the lives of Nigerians.
She said the MRI project demonstrates NNPC Limited’s commitment to delivering scalable and sustainable interventions, particularly for underserved and vulnerable populations, while strengthening critical national institutions.
According to her, the facility will improve healthcare delivery and quality of life not only for residents of Kano State and the North-West geopolitical zone but also for patients from across the country who rely on the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, for specialised medical care.
In his remarks, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, commended the NNPC Foundation for what he described as a landmark intervention in the state’s healthcare sector.
He noted that the MRI machine would facilitate early and accurate diagnosis, leading to better patient outcomes and enhanced healthcare services across the region.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Isa Nurudeen, also expressed appreciation to NNPC Limited, describing the donation as a transformative investment that would significantly improve the hospital’s operations and service delivery.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by representatives of NNPC Limited, management and staff of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, government officials, healthcare professionals, community leaders and other stakeholders.
