UPTH Launches ₦10 Billion Endowment Fund to Drive Healthcare Innovation, Economic Growth in Rivers State

The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has launched a ₦10 billion Endowment Fund to strengthen healthcare delivery, advance research, and boost manpower development in Rivers State and Nigeria at large. 

The event held on Friday, October 30, 2025 in Port Harcourt which marked the hospital’s 45th Anniversary and Founder’s Day celebration, brought together leading figures from academia, government, and the medical community all united by a shared vision of repositioning UPTH for global excellence.

Speaking at the event, the Second Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Sylvanus Cookey described the endowment fund as a worthy continuation of a long tradition of collaboration between the university and the teaching hospital. He recalled how a similar initiative during his tenure funded two buses that helped medical students commute between Choba and the hospital in Port Harcourt.

He said the new fund reflected the kind of synergy needed between educational institutions, government, and the private sector to strengthen national growth. 

According to him, universities must not exist as ivory towers but build strong partnerships with society. He added that the teaching hospital had become a source of pride not only to Rivers State but to Nigeria. He urged stakeholders to “sustain the initiative through continuous support and the creation of a friends of UPTH association to keep the partnership alive”.

The Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Prof. Henry Ugboma, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who had contributed to the institution’s progress over the years. He traced the hospital’s journey from its modest beginnings in 1980 as a 60-bed cottage hospital in Emohua Local Government Area to its present status as a 1,000-bed tertiary health facility delivering advanced medical services.

Prof. Ugboma highlighted key achievements under his administration, including improved staff welfare, increased manpower, enhanced research capacity, and infrastructural upgrades.

The hospital, he said now boasts over 674 nurses, 54 pharmacists, and hundreds of other clinical and non-clinical staff. A five-year strategic plan has also been launched to position UPTH as a world-class centre for training, service, and research.

 “We have made remarkable progress, but the federal government alone cannot bear the full burden of infrastructure and equipment. This endowment fund is our collective step towards sustainability. We call on everyone to support this vision of building a world-class hospital for the South-South region and Nigeria as a whole.”

Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Director of Teaching Hospitals, Abisola Adegoke, commended UPTH’s achievements and described the endowment fund as a “strategic and commendable step” towards self-sustainability. 

She noted that UPTH’s progress over four decades had positively impacted countless lives across the Niger Delta and beyond.

“The fund is more than a financial mechanism; it symbolises the hospital’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and leadership in healthcare”.

“It is a model that other tertiary institutions must emulate if Nigeria is to achieve lasting health sector transformation.”

In his welcome address, Co-Chair of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Chijioke Nwauche described the event as the culmination of a week-long celebration that included a medical outreach, alumni day, colloquium, and exhibition. 

He said the ₦10 billion endowment fund would support ongoing infrastructure projects, medical equipment procurement, and improved healthcare services across Rivers State and Nigeria.

He reflected on UPTH’s impact in nurturing medical professionals who now serve as vice-chancellors, chief medical directors, commissioners, and researchers globally.

 “UPTH has journeyed from a small health facility in 1980 to a mega tertiary centre with world-class services including IVF, cardiothoracic surgery, and a molecular laboratory”.

Delivering the keynote lecture on behalf of Awele Elumelu, the CEO of Avon HMO, Osakpamwan Imasogie, stressed the importance of innovation and manpower development in strengthening health systems. 

He said Nigeria’s health sector faced challenges ranging from inadequate investment to the loss of skilled professionals abroad, but emphasised that “crisis often precedes transformation.”

 “Repositioning means intentional change. It means modernising systems, prioritising patient-centred care, building a motivated workforce, and leveraging technology to make healthcare efficient and affordable. With the right mindset, UPTH can lead Nigeria’s healthcare renaissance.”

Representing the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Adaeze Oreh, Mina Briggs commended the hospital’s leadership for its dedication and impact. 

She conveyed the commissioner’s goodwill message, praising UPTH for its contributions to healthcare delivery in the state and promising continued collaboration from the Ministry of Health.

The event concluded with the recognition of past leaders, partners, and outstanding staff whose contributions have shaped UPTH’s legacy. 

Awards were also presented to corporate organisations, including the Niger Delta Development Commission and Renaissance Africa Energy Company, as well as individuals such as former President Goodluck Jonathan.

As UPTH enters it’s next phase, the Endowment Fund is expected to create long-term impact not only in healthcare but also in the state’s economy by attracting partnerships, promoting research, and enhancing public trust in local medical institutions.

In the words of Prof. Cookey, “When men of learning join hands with men of action, the nation prospers. So the fund is seen as a bridge between both.”