By Olaitan Ibrahim
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, unveiled the Avon Medical Facility, equipped with state-of-the-art health equipment.
The 50-bed ultra-modern facility, located in Surulere, Lagos, was built by Dr Awele Elumelu, wife of the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, to boost access to healthcare in Nigeria and reduce medical tourism by providing advanced medical care locally.
Speaking at the unveiling, Sanwo-Olu said his administration believed that involving the private sector in the healthcare industry was crucial to ensuring access to high-quality medical care for citizens.
He said the government had provided an enabling environment for the private sector to make investment decisions in the health sector.
The governor said, “We are partnering and collaborating with the private sector. Health institutions and health facilities everywhere are not provided by one arm of society alone.
“The government certainly cannot provide everything for everyone but must create an enabling environment for private equity, private partners, and private investors to make those decisions and channel their investments into the health profession.
“You must have patience, but you must also have a conscience and sense of purpose to say, ‘I want to help my citizens and society to have better health outcomes.’ I feel proud of what Avon Medical has done in the past 16 years.”
Sanwo-Olu assured that the Lagos State Government would continue to promote private sector investment by creating an environment that encourages participation.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health said the Federal Government was strengthening the tertiary healthcare system to address medical tourism.
The minister, who was represented by the Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, commended the founder of Avon Medical for playing a crucial role in the healthcare system and contributing to the success of the government’s significant investments in the sector.
He noted that with these new additions, the healthcare system in the country was being strengthened, and the need to travel abroad for some critical care services was being addressed.
Pate said, “It is the launch of a new vision for private sector-led innovation, excellence, and partnership in Nigeria’s health system. This hospital, with its advanced diagnostic centre—equipped with a modern CT scan machine, a well-structured accident and emergency unit, a dedicated paediatric and intensive care unit, and a fully equipped operating theatre—speaks to a bold and clear vision: to provide affordable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare services to Nigerians locally and without compromise.
“The innovation and dedication embodied in this new facility signal a shift toward a more responsive and people-centred model of healthcare delivery—one that matches global standards while remaining rooted in local realities.
“As we gather here today, we are reminded that no single sector or stakeholder can deliver healthcare alone. The challenges facing Nigeria’s health system—ranging from inequitable access and poor infrastructure to limited human resources and access to medicines—require a collaborative, all-of-society approach.”
In her welcome address, Dr Awele Elumelu gave insight into the journey of Avon Medical, which began in 2009 to bridge the gaps in the health sector and make access to quality healthcare affordable to all, irrespective of economic and social status.
The Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited and CEO of Avon Medical Services Limited said, “This is particularly emotional for us at Avon Medical. It’s a moment of pride and deep fulfilment. Please permit me to tell you our story, because it’s when you understand where we started that you will better appreciate what this moment means—not just for us, but for many families across this country. So, in 2009, the journey officially began.
“The decision was made, and we took the first step—a bold step—to make world-class healthcare accessible and affordable to all. Not just for the wealthy, not just for the privileged few, but for everyone. We were focused on the problems, which we all sort of have an idea of.”
Elumelu stressed that the state-of-the-art medical facility was built to improve lives, create lasting impact, and transform Africa by addressing challenges confronting the health sector, including brain drain—popularly known as the japa syndrome—and the dearth of equipment.
“We saw them all around us—overburdened public hospitals, lack of modern equipment, medical professionals being stretched to their limits, and a lot of people who were simply frustrated, not being able to get medical help in time. And we couldn’t look away, so we decided to do something about it.
“That single decision to step in gave birth to Avon Medical, which you see here, and the health insurance company that we have—Avon HMO. One was to provide excellent healthcare services, and the other was to ensure that people could afford them.
“That combination was deliberate. It was our way of ensuring that we were not only building facilities but also creating access to them. Fast forward to today—from our humble beginnings of operating just one worksite clinic at a single location, we’ve grown into a 50-bed hospital network, including a dialysis centre currently located in Ikeja, and several worksite clinics both in Lagos and in other parts of the country,” she explained.
The CEO expressed concern that Africa carries over 20 per cent of the global disease burden yet has access to only one per cent of healthcare resources.
Continuing, she said, “Approximately 48 per cent of Africans lack access to quality healthcare, which we all need. Only about three per cent of global health workers serve our continent. In Nigeria alone, the gap in the number of available and qualified doctors, beds, and equipment reflects a system under pressure.
“The African healthcare system is the hardest hit by the migration crisis. Now, these are not mere numbers—they represent people, real people, real stories, real lives. And far too often, they represent women and children. Which is why this facility matters—because now, more women will receive the maternal care they need to safely bring life into the world. It means more children will get timely diagnoses, life-saving treatments, and a better shot at long, healthier lives.
“It means more families will have access to quality and affordable healthcare services that they deserve. That is what we are building—a healthcare system that leaves no one behind.
“Our vision has always been bold: to create a network of health solutions that are not only accessible and affordable but also world-class. We will continue to empower individuals to live healthier, fuller lives and restore hope in Africa’s health system. To achieve a developed Africa, we must have healthier Africans.”
Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, in his brief remarks, commended the Lagos State Government for its support and for creating an enabling environment for private investors and investment to thrive.
He assured that Heirs Holdings remains committed to improving lives and solving Africa’s problems.