Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Tuesday, 25 August 25, commissioned the newly remodeled, digitally equipped 80-bed Obingwa General Hospital and renamed it in honour of an illustrious son of Obingwa LGA and renowned human rights activist, the late Chima Ubani.
The commissioning took place at Mgboko, the headquarters of Obingwa LGA.
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This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Governor Otti’s spokesman, Njoku Ukoha.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otti said healthcare remains central to his administration’s development agenda. He noted that investments in the sector are aimed at restoring confidence in public health institutions and saving lives, particularly those of mothers and newborns.
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Mr Otti said the new facility will expand access to quality medical services for hundreds of thousands of residents in Obingwa and neighbouring communities. He stressed that its strategic location will also serve people from Aba, Osisioma and other adjoining areas.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the hospital’s modern features, which include a healing garden, technology-driven data management, real-time inter-facility collaboration, technology-assisted laboratory and scan analysis, a well-equipped theatre and eye care units, observation rooms, and a renewable energy system designed to support uninterrupted power supply.
“We have reached a new milestone in the effort to modernise our health institutions to reflect the spirit of this age.
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“This facility should remain open every night and day. It operates for 24 hours a day, Saturdays and Sundays inclusive.
“Whoever comes here for medical reasons must receive the attention and support they need, whatever their social or economic conditions,” Governor Otti stated.
Why we named the hospital after Chima Ubani – Otti
Governor Otti explained that the decision to name the hospital after Chima Ubani was a tribute to the late activist’s courage, compassion, and lifelong commitment to justice, democracy, and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
Recalling Mr Ubani’s role as a pro-democracy campaigner, Students’ Union President at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation, the governor described him as “a mentor of the masses, one who died in pursuit of the very ideals that he lived for.”
He added that the honour was intended not only to preserve Ubani’s memory but also to inspire present and future generations to live lives of courage, service and integrity.
The governor assured that his administration would continue to support the family of the late activist and collaborate with medical professionals and other stakeholders to strengthen healthcare delivery in Abia.
He said he was pleased that community leaders have been incorporated to ensure that the facility remains protected, and he cautioned vandals against any attempt to vandalize the hospital.
In their various speeches, the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe; the Labour Party State Chairman, Peter Azubuike; the Labour Party candidate for Obingwa, Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency, Okey Nwambu; the Labour Party candidate for Obingwa West Constituency, Victoria Dibunma Onwubiko; the Mayor of Obingwa LGA, Maxwell Nwadike and Eze Nwabiaraije Eneogwe thanked the governor for the hospital and other transformational projects in Obingwa. They assured that the Obingwa people would vote overwhelmingly for him and his party members.
Otti’s projects in health sector
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Health, Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the 80-bed hospital is a demonstration that Governor Otti is building a future-ready healthcare system in Abia State.
He disclosed that within three years in office, Governor Otti is carrying out a total of 301 infrastructural projects in health, with 277 Primary Health Centres being built and equipped to the standard set. He said the facility is a digital hospital and that women in labour at various PHCs can be linked to it.
“Obingwa has received more than a fair share of these projects, including 18 primary health centres, 13 of them under Project Ekwueme and five under Impact project,” Mr Uche, a professor, stated.
Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Hospitals Management Board (HMB), Odochi Azubuike, recalled that the hospital was built by the Local Government SURE-P, Abia State, and was commissioned in 2015. She added that the Otti administration met it in a dilapidated state: no admissions, no drugs, and no equipment. She said the hospital has moved from a facility that lacked everything to a functional hospital.
Ms Azubuike appreciated the governor for his commitment to promoting the welfare of HMB staff and urged the Obingwa people to own the facility and ensure that it is protected.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Save A Life Group, Richard Okoye, said the group is partnering with Abia because of Governor Otti’s visionary leadership. He added that Abia will soon record the highest life expectancy in the whole of West Africa due to Governor Otti’s investment in health. He appreciated the governor’s decision that every Abian deserves dignified and quality healthcare.
Also, retired renowned professor of Paediatrics, Kanu Nkaginieme, while lauding the transformational efforts of Governor Otti, stressed the need for president-generals and community leaders to oversee the health facilities and for all Abians to take ownership of all the projects the governor is building across the state.
The commissioning was attended by the Deputy Governor of Abia, Ikechukwu Emetu, Secretary to the Abia State Government, Emmanuel Meribeole, Chief of Staff to Governor Otti, Caleb Ajagba, among other senior government officials.
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