Cancer care at the National Hospital, Abuja has received a major boost of $300,000 donation by the Renaissance Africa Energy and its joint venture partners – Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited; TotalEnergies; and Agip Energy and Natural Resources.
The donation will fund the Service License Agreement (SLA) that guarantees the continuous operation and maintenance of the world-class Linear Accelerator (LiNAC) radiotherapy machine earlier donated to the hospital by the joint venture in 2019.
Speaking at the donation event held at the hospital in Abuja, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance, Mr. Tony Attah, noted that the intervention by the joint venture was critical at time that cancer was ravaging more Nigerians, with care cost rocketing by the day.
“Cancer remains a formidable challenge to public health in our nation. Behind the statistics are real people whose futures depend on timely access to affordable, world-class treatment. This is not charity; it is a pledge to safeguard the future of cancer care and ensure that the fight against cancer in Nigeria is not only sustained but won.”
Attah therefore described the donation as a strategic investment in the well-being of Nigerians and the resilience of the country’s health systems. “We commended Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen cancer care, and we invite other stakeholders to join forces in advancing innovation, collaboration, and patient support,” Attah said.
Receiving the donation, Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the ministry’s collaboration with Renaissance and its joint venture partners as a good example of the public-private partnership needed to attract investment into health services for the benefit of Nigerians.
The minister said, “Cancer care remains a major challenge and affordability is critical. Renaissance generosity fits within our broader effort to revamp infrastructure and equipment for cancer treatment. The LiNAC machine has treated more than 2,000 patients, reduced the cost of care by 80 percent, and significantly shortened treatment time. This is a path we can build on.”
“This partnership is a good example that I hope other corporate giants can learn from—how private industry, with its own vision and stakeholders, finds it worthwhile to co-invest in improving Nigeria’s health system,” the minister said, adding: “Renaissance and its partners have not only provided this life-saving technology but are ensuring its uninterrupted operation. This commitment translates directly into lives saved and hope restored for thousands of patients. We look forward to deepening this partnership as we strive to make cancer care accessible to all Nigerians.”
Representing the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), the Head Business Services, Mrs. Nkechi Anaedobe, reiterated the joint venture’s commitment to sustaining cancer care infrastructure, “This is more than just operational support; it is a strategic investment in accessible, high-quality healthcare. Our $300,000 donation will fund the Service Level Agreement for the LiNAC machine, ensuring timely maintenance, minimizing downtime, and safeguarding compliance with medical standards. This commitment underscores our dedication to the long-term sustainability of cancer treatment services in Nigeria,” she said,
The Chief Medical Director of National Hospital Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Raji Mahmud, expressed gratitude for the continued support. “Cancer treatment is one of the most resource-intensive areas of healthcare, and sustaining advanced equipment like the LiNAC machine requires significant investment,” he said.
Renaissance Health Manager, Dr. Akinwunmi Fajola, said, “From the very beginning, we saw that the National Hospital was ready to work. They had the infrastructure, the commitment, and the vision. Through collaboration with our partners and the OEM, Elekta, we were able to deliver the LiNAC machine and achieve something excellent. Treatment time has dropped from about 15 minutes to just four minutes, and that’s a game-changer for patients.”
Since its installation in 2019, the LiNAC machine has transformed cancer treatment in Nigeria, reducing therapy costs by over 80%, cutting treatment time from 12 minutes to approximately two minutes, and providing care to more than 2,000 patients, including subsidized treatment for indigent patients.
