Olowolafe: Nigeria Can Build World-class Healthcare Institutions

The chairman of the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, has called for greater investment in Nigeria’s healthcare system, saying the country has the talent and capacity to build medical institutions that can compete with the best anywhere in the world.

Olowolafe made the call on Thursday, 17 September 2026, while speaking at the annual convocation ceremony of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, where he was conferred with the Honorary Fellowship of the College.

Reflecting on his career, Olowolafe, who trained as a medical doctor but left clinical practice more than four decades ago, said his professional journey had seen him work across several fields, including civil engineering, architecture, biomedical engineering and marine services.

He recalled his tenure as Chairman of the Lekki Concession Company, which developed the Lekki-Epe Expressway, describing the project as an example of what could be achieved when the right expertise, people and capital were brought together.

According to him, the same principle could transform Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

He noted that Nigerians spend enormous sums travelling abroad for medical treatment and urged stakeholders to build a healthcare system capable of meeting Nigerians’ needs at home, while eventually positioning the country as a destination for patients from across Africa.

Olowolafe also charged the newly inducted specialists and Doctors of Medicine to continue learning and refining their skills, stressing that people, rather than hospitals and equipment alone, would determine the success of Nigeria’s healthcare transformation.

He expressed gratitude to the College for the honorary fellowship, describing the recognition as a deeply appreciated return to the medical profession more than 40 years after leaving clinical practice.