The NNPC Foundation has commissioned and handed over a fully installed 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, in a major move aimed at improving access to advanced healthcare services in Nigeria’s South-East region.
The intervention forms part of NNPC Limited’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to quality medical services across the country.
The state-of-the-art MRI facility is expected to significantly improve diagnostic imaging services for millions of Nigerians across Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States, as well as neighbouring Delta State.
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The project involved the delivery, installation, calibration, testing and commissioning of the 1.5 Tesla MRI machine alongside critical supporting infrastructure, including RF shielding systems, chillers, backup UPS systems, electrical installations, specialized imaging accessories, ventilation systems, CCTV and oxygen monitoring systems, intercom communication facilities, and other patient-comfort technologies to ensure optimal operation of the facility.
Before the intervention, patients requiring advanced MRI diagnostic services often faced long waiting periods, high costs, and the burden of travelling far distances to access functional imaging centres.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the Igwe Orizu ICT Centre, NAUTH Permanent Site in Nnewi, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, described the intervention as a strategic investment in healthcare access and improved patient outcomes.
“The installation of the MRI in NAUTH exemplifies our commitment as our intent is to build enduring institutions, sustainable systems and legacies. This intervention aligns with our conviction that access to quality healthcare underpins human dignity, longevity and economic productivity,” he stated.
He further noted that the company’s social investments continue to strengthen the relationship between its core mandate of managing energy resources for Nigerians and meeting the expectations of stakeholders nationwide.
In his remarks, Charles Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, said the intervention would enhance safe and precise diagnosis and treatment for patients across the South-East region.
He commended the NNPC Foundation for donating the MRI facility, describing it as a major contribution toward improving access to quality healthcare services for the people.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Business Services at NNPC Limited, Sophia Mbakwe, represented by Chief Supply Chain Officer, Isokariari Telema, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to equitable and impactful social investments across Nigeria.
“In over forty years of its existence, NNPC has stayed the course in impacting lives positively across Nigeria – supporting infrastructural development, social amenities, educational sponsorships, and several other initiatives that reflect our values of Integrity, Excellence and Sustainability,” the company stated.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Joseph Ugboaja, praised the leadership of NNPC Limited for recognizing the importance of healthcare to national development and public wellbeing.
“For too long, patients in our catchment area have had to travel long distances to access this level of diagnostic precision, often at prohibitive costs. With this installation, we will eliminate that burden. NNPC Foundation has demonstrated that corporate social responsibility is not just a policy statement but a lifeline for institutions like ours,” he said.
