Professor Joseph Ugboaja: Matching Vision2030 With Renewed Action.
“A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”
— John C. Maxwell.
As we gradually draw the curtain on the year 2025, we pause to acknowledge and extol the faithfulness of God, whose boundless mercies have continued to strengthen us in every season.
We particularly give Him thanks for the remarkable progress recorded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, under the purposeful and visionary leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Joseph Ugboaja, OON, fondly known as Ochinanwata Nnewi.
Upon his assumption of office as the substantive Chief Medical Director, Professor Ugboaja, together with his management team, conceived and launched an ambitious yet clearly defined roadmap aimed at positioning NAUTH among the top three tertiary hospitals in Nigeria by the year 2030, and ultimately, the very best. This bold aspiration, aptly christened Vision 2030, is anchored on nine strategic pillars, chief among them: strong corporate governance, infrastructural development, partnerships and collaborations, deployment of state-of-the-art medical equipment, staff welfare and motivation, and others, aimed to make the hospital the best.
During his first tenure, a major short-term objective of Vision 2030 was successfully achieved — the historic relocation of NAUTH from its old site to the permanent site after over 30 years of operation. This milestone was accompanied by the construction of critical healthcare infrastructure and the installation of modern, cutting-edge medical equipment designed to enhance service delivery.
Today, access to quality healthcare at NAUTH has significantly improved. Patient waiting time has reduced considerably due to the availability of more consultant offices and improved service coordinations. These improvements have led to increased patient throughput and a notable reduction in mortality rates.
In recognition of his outstanding performance during his first tenure, Mr. President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), graciously approved the reappointment of Professor Joseph Ugboaja for a second tenure as Chief Medical Director.
Since the announcement of his reappointment, the CMD and his team have remained unwavering in their commitment to the realization of Vision 2030. Far from resting on past achievements, Professor Ugboaja continues to demonstrate uncommon passion, energy, and focus in driving the hospital toward its long-term goals.
The long-term component of Vision 2030, which focuses on the establishment of centres of medical excellence, has already taken off. A significant boost came with the appointment of Dr. Laz Okafor as the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, with responsibility for overseeing and driving ICT and E-Medicine initiatives. This strategic appointment underscores NAUTH’s renewed commitment to digital innovation, health informatics, and the integration of e-medicine into both clinical and administrative operations.
Furthermore, the installation of the MRI Suite (GE 1.5 Tesla), a multi-billion-naira diagnostic and high-technology medical project, has reached an advanced stage.
Equally commendable is the ongoing construction of the 60-bed VIP Mother and Child Care Ward, which is nearing completion and will be tastefully furnished to further enhance maternal and child healthcare services at the institution.
These deliberate and sustained efforts clearly demonstrate that the march toward Vision 2030 remains steady and irreversible. Consequently, NAUTH continues to deepen partnerships and collaborations critical to the full realization of this vision.
As a mark of patriotism and collective responsibility, we warmly invite sons and daughters of Nnewi, Ozubulu, and Oraifite, both at home and in the diaspora, who will be visiting during this festive season, to take time to tour the permanent site of NAUTH. We encourage them to witness firsthand the emerging medical city and explore opportunities to partner with the hospital in building one of the finest healthcare institutions in Africa.
In closing, we commend the entire staff of NAUTH for their dedication and unwavering support toward the realization of Vision 2030. We also appreciate the invaluable contributions of key external stakeholders, including His Royal Highness, Igwe Nnewi, Kenneth Orizu III; the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Mohammed Pate, CON; and most especially Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose increased funding of the health sector has significantly improved healthcare infrastructure across the nation and at NAUTH in particular.
NAUTH remains a beacon of medical excellence.
Bright Anyanwu (PAA),
Technical Assistant to the Chief Medical Director (Media & Publicity).