The NNPC Foundation has officially handed over a newly installed 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, in Kano. This initiative aims to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to advanced diagnostic services in Northern Nigeria.
Enhancing Diagnostic Capabilities
The MRI machine, widely recognized as a trusted diagnostic imaging tool in modern medicine, is expected to significantly boost the hospital's capacity to diagnose and manage complex medical conditions, particularly trauma, orthopaedic, neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Official Handover Ceremony
During the handover ceremony on Thursday, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuela Arukwe, reaffirmed the company's commitment to investing in sectors that support national and human development. He stated that through the Foundation, NNPC Limited has continued to implement impactful social interventions across Nigeria, with healthcare as a key focus area.
Ojulari noted that the installation of the MRI system at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, will revolutionize healthcare services in Kano and the wider North-West region by improving diagnostic accuracy, reducing treatment delays, and making advanced healthcare more accessible and affordable. He emphasized that the Foundation's interventions are carefully selected to ensure sustainability and long-term impact, and that the MRI facility would help reduce the burden on patients who previously had to travel long distances for such services.
Training and Sustainability
The Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuela Arukwe, represented by the Executive Director of Program Development, Dr. Bala David, stated that the project was designed not only to improve patient access to quality healthcare but also to strengthen trauma care systems across Northern Nigeria. She explained that inadequate medical equipment remains a major challenge in many developing economies, often resulting in delayed diagnosis, expensive referrals, and poor health outcomes. “The installation of this MRI system will improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce waiting times, minimise travel-related risks, and support better treatment outcomes for patients,” she said. Arukwe added that healthcare personnel have been trained to ensure effective operation and maintenance of the equipment, guaranteeing sustainability and strengthening institutional capacity.
Support from Stakeholders
The Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Limited, Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe, represented by the Executive Director of Programme Management and Project Coordinator of the NNPC Foundation, Engr. Rose Okonkwo, said the intervention followed a thorough needs assessment. She described the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, as one of the most important healthcare institutions in Northern Nigeria, noting that the MRI machine would address longstanding diagnostic challenges and improve access to advanced healthcare services across the region. Mbakwe urged the hospital management to ensure proper maintenance and sustainability of the facility to guarantee continued benefits for future generations.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Director of Special Projects, Dr. Michael Akphan, commended NNPC Foundation for the intervention and reiterated the Federal Government's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria. He stressed the importance of maintaining the facility to ensure its long-term impact on healthcare delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Kano State Government, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, thanked NNPC Limited for the gesture and appealed to the company to intervene in the completion of the magnificent isolation centre in Kano for maximum utilization.
Historic Milestone for the Hospital
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano, Dr. Isa Nurudeen, described the commissioning as a historic milestone for the institution. He recalled that for years, the absence of an MRI machine had remained a major challenge, forcing patients to travel long distances and incur significant costs to access advanced diagnostic services. Dr. Nurudeen said several attempts by successive administrations to procure the equipment were unsuccessful due to the enormous financial requirements involved. “The MRI machine will significantly enhance our diagnostic capabilities by providing detailed imaging of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, spinal cord, nerves, and soft tissues. It will support early and accurate diagnosis, improve treatment planning, reduce waiting times, and minimise the need for patients to seek advanced imaging services outside Kano and the region,” he said. The CMD further revealed that the MRI system, manufactured in 2025, is among the most modern diagnostic imaging facilities in Northern Nigeria and would also support medical training and capacity development. He commended NNPC Foundation for the intervention and pledged that the hospital would ensure proper utilisation, maintenance, and sustainability of the equipment.
The event attracted officials from NNPC Limited, the Federal Ministry of Health, Kano State Government, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders, who described the project as a major contribution to improving specialized healthcare services and reducing medical referrals outside the region.
