OKPEBHOLO, PATE HAIL CHIEF LEEMON IKPEA AS ULTRA-MODERN MEDICAL CENTRE OPENS IN EWATTO

……Urge Greater Private Investment in Healthcare

EWATTO, EDO STATE — Monday, October 19, 2026

Kingsley Ohens Reporting

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, have commended Chief Dr. Leemon Ikpea, CON, OON, FNSE, JP, for establishing an ultra-modern medical centre in Ewatto, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The commendation came on Monday during the commissioning of the Chief (Dr.) Leemon Ikpea Medical Centre, which attracted government officials, traditional rulers, healthcare professionals, community leaders and other dignitaries.

Established through the philanthropic vision of Chief Dr. Ikpea and the Agbonjagwe Leemon Ikpea Foundation (ALIF), the facility is expected to bring quality healthcare closer to residents of Ewatto and neighbouring communities while reducing the need to travel long distances for medical treatment.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Okpebholo praised Chief Ikpea for converting his success into a lasting investment in the welfare of his people. He described the centre as an investment in human life, community development and the future of Ewatto.

The governor said access to quality healthcare was essential to citizens’ well-being and productivity, particularly in rural communities where specialised services were often difficult to access. He noted that the project demonstrated the impact individuals could make by directing their resources towards pressing social needs.

Okpebholo disclosed that his administration had recruited more than 2,000 healthcare workers and upgraded over 65 primary healthcare centres across Edo State. He also cited the construction of a 150-bed specialist hospital in Ewatto as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.

While acknowledging government’s responsibility to provide essential services, the governor said the scale of Nigeria’s healthcare needs made collaboration with philanthropists, private investors, corporate organisations and community institutions necessary.

He urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Chief Ikpea by investing in projects that improve lives and promote sustainable development. He also charged the centre’s management and medical personnel to maintain high standards of professionalism, patient care and efficiency.

Okpebholo called on residents to protect the facility and its equipment, stressing that its benefits should serve both present and future generations.

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, described the centre as a significant contribution to healthcare delivery and an example of how private philanthropy could complement government efforts to improve health outcomes.

He congratulated Chief Ikpea, his family and ALIF for placing community health at the centre of development, noting that a healthy population was better positioned to contribute to agriculture, education, commerce and other sectors of the economy.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to strengthening primary healthcare, improving hospital services and expanding health insurance coverage. He also highlighted the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and stressed the need for sustained cooperation among the federal, state and local governments.

Professor Pate said government could not bear the entire burden of healthcare provision alone. He therefore urged wealthy Nigerians, corporate organisations and other private-sector stakeholders to invest in building, equipping and supporting healthcare facilities.

He said such investments could expand access to essential services, reduce pressure on public hospitals and strengthen the country’s health system.

Earlier, Chief Ikpea, founder of ALIF, described the centre as the fulfilment of a long-held vision to ensure that access to quality healthcare was not determined by location or income.

He said the project was conceived in response to the difficulties residents of Ewatto and neighbouring communities faced in accessing functional healthcare. The facility, he added, represented his contribution to improving the health and welfare of the people.

Ikpea said the centre’s success would depend on effective management, adequate staffing, proper maintenance and continued functionality. He pledged to support its development as a dependable healthcare institution.

He expressed hope that the facility would provide timely care for mothers, children, elderly residents and patients requiring urgent attention.

The philanthropist urged residents to protect the centre’s equipment, maintain a clean environment and respect its healthcare professionals. He also welcomed partnerships with government agencies, development organisations, medical institutions and other stakeholders.

Ikpea thanked Governor Okpebholo, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, representatives of the federal and Edo State governments, lawmakers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders for attending the commissioning.

He said the centre was intended to remain a community asset and a symbol of what could be achieved through vision, generosity and collective responsibility.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Edo State Chapter, Dr. Andrew Eigbedion, also praised Chief Ikpea for establishing the facility. He expressed confidence that it would benefit residents of Ewatto, Nemato and neighbouring communities.

ESV Tony Okonigene, National Secretary of the Late Augustus Aikhomu Foundation, described the centre as a one-stop healthcare facility. He highlighted its advanced equipment, including CT scanning and echocardiography machines, as well as modern patient accommodation.

Okonigene said the facility’s equipment and infrastructure would support comprehensive medical services and reduce the need for patients to travel elsewhere for specialised care.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ALIF, Hon. Matthew Egbadon, described the commissioning as a milestone in the foundation’s work in human development, social welfare, education, skills development and community advancement.

Egbadon said the foundation, established by Chief Ikpea in 2012, was founded on the belief that sustainable development required investment in people, support for vulnerable groups and initiatives that improved community life.

He commended Chief Ikpea for creating an institutional framework for sustainable philanthropy and called for stronger collaboration among government, businesses, traditional institutions, private citizens and development organisations.

The commissioning marks a major step in the healthcare development of Ewatto and its environs. It also underscores the role of philanthropy, private-sector participation and strategic partnerships in expanding access to essential services and complementing government investment.

With Governor Okpebholo and Professor Muhammad Ali Pate urging greater private investment in healthcare, the centre demonstrates how individual commitment can help address community needs and support a healthier society.