VP Shettima urges improved private sector support for health reforms

…commissions N2bn Trauma Centre in Ogun

By Kunle Sanni

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigeria’s private sector to play a more active role in driving healthcare reforms, insisting that the government alone cannot meet the nation’s vast health needs.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre in Sagamu, Ogun State, Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to overhauling the health sector through strategic investments and partnerships.

The trauma centre, built and equipped by the Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Foundation within the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, is valued at over N2 billion. It was commissioned as part of events marking the 80th birthday of Chief Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, a prominent businessman and philanthropist.

Describing the facility as “a lifeline” and “a symbol of preparedness,” Shettima praised Adegunwa’s gesture, urging more philanthropists and corporate bodies to emulate the initiative.

“This centre is more than a birthday gift; it is a gift to humanity,” the Vice President said. “It is a sanctuary where the wounded can find healing, and where families in despair can find hope.”

Highlighting the Federal Government’s efforts to transform healthcare delivery, Shettima revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which includes the creation of over 8,800 new Primary Healthcare Centres and the upgrade of tertiary hospitals to handle trauma, oncology, and infectious diseases.

“In a nation facing rising urbanisation, motorisation, and industrial risks, trauma care is no longer optional—it is essential,” he added.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, also praised the contribution of Adegunwa, describing him as a “philanthropist, entrepreneur, and the father of modern philanthropy.” He noted that the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital had experienced a major turnaround in recent years following a period of neglect.