In a significant move to address Nigeria’s growing healthcare demands, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi in Anambra State, says it is embarking on a major expansion project, aiming to increase its bed capacity from the current 1,500 to an ambitious 5,000.
This substantial development underscores the hospital’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access and services for the nation’s burgeoning population.
Established in 1988, the hospital’s permanent site in Nnewi, Anambra State, is steadily taking shape on the city’s outskirts and is set to emerge as one of Africa’s largest and most advanced teaching hospitals, delivering world-class healthcare to the region.
Built on expansive land, the site is planned as a full-fledged medical city, integrating diagnostic facilities, surgical centers, outpatient wings, teaching auditoriums, and green healing spaces.
NAUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, disclosed this on Tuesday, July 22, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Community Mobilization, Mr Augustine Okoli, a copy of which was given to Persecondnews in Abuja.
He said: “From its modest beginnings as a regional medical center operating from a temporary site, NAUTH has metamorphosed into a vital institution serving Southeastern Nigeria.
“However, the hospital’s transformation truly began in 2021 with the appointment of Prof. Joseph Ugboaja as the CMD – a decisive turning point that set the current progress in motion.
“Faced with outdated infrastructure and increasing demands, Ugboaja spearheaded a bold, phased transformation plan anchored on relocation, modernisation, expansion, and future-proofing.
“It was not a vague vision. Nevertheless, it was defined, measurable, and practical. His 10-year development roadmap outlined clear milestones: stabilising existing services, activating essential units at the permanent site, and ultimately developing a multi-specialist, continent-class hospital capable of serving millions.
“What sets NAUTH apart is not just its scale but the strategic thinking behind its growth, with 1,500 functional beds already in operation, positioning the hospital to address both current and future healthcare challenges in Nigeria and West Africa.
“Its aspiration to reach 5,000 beds is not a mere projection – it is a meticulously engineered expansion backed by infrastructure, investment, and purpose.
“The environment fosters calm and recovery, while the infrastructure supports high-throughput service delivery and interdisciplinary collaboration among specialists.”
He also said: “Services at NAUTH have expanded dramatically. The hospital now hosts advanced departments in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, pediatrics, thoracic surgery, mental health, ENT, nephrology, and more.
“The institution has introduced specialised units such as the Orthopedic Outpatient Department and Dialysis Center while integrating sophisticated imaging and surgical technologies to support complex medical interventions.
“A critical part of NAUTH’s evolution is its growing workforce. From a humble team of 120 in its early years, the hospital now boasts over 2,000 professionals. These include doctors, nurses, specialists, researchers, technicians, and administrators.
“NAUTH is more than a hospital. It is a vibrant teaching and research institution affiliated with Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Every year, it trains scores of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students while also engaging in public health research and outreach.
“The institution plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of Nigerian medical professionals, many of whom go on to lead in various parts of the world.’’
Leave a comment