Dangote: N7bn Kano hospital to be completed in 2016

L-R. Hajiya Halimat Dangote presenting the the prototype of the Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata Ultral Modern Medical Complex to Governor Ganduje

Chief Executive of the Dangote Foundation, Ms Halima Dangote, has revealed that the ongoing construction of a multibillion naira state-of- the-art Operating Theatre and Diagnostic Centre at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, is due for completion next year.

Ms Dangote made this revelation when her team visited Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State at the weekend. She said the Operating Theatre and Diagnostic Centre will cost the Foundation N7billion. She attributed the earlier delay to technical hitches and said the new contractor (Dantata and Sawoe) has returned to site. She also said that the routine immunization programme of the Foundation is being extended to Bauchi, Yobe, Maiduguri and Katsina. She added that the Foundation’s Business School Project at the Bayero University Kano has gulped N524million, even as it injected N500 million into Kano School of Technology.

 L-R. Executive Director Dangote Foundation, Hajiya Halimat Dangote; Dangote Project Division, General Manager Civil Engr. Auwalu Haliru; Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje during the governor’s visit to the hospital site on Saturday

Ms Dangote also revealed that the Foundation is determined to build a 500MW electricity station in Kano. She described some of the projects as “game changing projects” to be completed in the next two years. Governor Ganduje said the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has done a lot for the Kano people, and the people of Kano will remain grateful forever. He singled out the contribution of the Foundation to the fight against polio disease, adding that it was indeed a massive intervention. He said with the help of the Dangote Foundation, the state will soon be given its Polio Free Certificate. “We are ready to do anything to support your effort,” the Governor said.
He further described Dangote’s intervention at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital as massive, saying the hospital is one of the oldest in West Africa. The Foundation has also completed the construction of seven out of the 11 Primary Health Care Centres it is building in the state.

L-R.Executive Director Stakeholders and Corporate Communication Dangote Group Engr. Mansur Ahmed; Hajiya Halimat Dangote receiving a gift from Ganduje during her team’s visit to Goverment House, Kano on the Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata Ultral Modern Medical Complex built by Dangote Foundation in Kano

At a handover ceremony of one of the health care centres at Gwale Local Government, Ms Dangote said the construction of 11 health centres in the state will cost the Foundation N72 million.
At the handover ceremony, Ms Dangote said her father, Aliko Dangote, would prefer that most of his interventions are not mentioned in public for Allah’s sake. She however said the Foundation that she heads will continue to assist the poor and support government’s efforts around the world.
Also Executive Director Stakeholders Relations and Corporate Communications, Engr Mansur Ahmed, said the new health care centre will help the people in the community overcome most of their simple health challenges. He urged the people of Kano to always pray for Alhaji Aliko Dangote and support the Dangote Group.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Abba Kailani, expressed government’s appreciation and promised to support the health care centres through staffing.
Secretary to the chairman of Gwale Local Government, Shehu Haza who represented the chairman of the council, while commending the Foundation, said government will ensure that the health care centres are functional.