Nigerian Tycoon Emeka Offor Donates 1-million Cancer Equipment To University Of Maiduguri Hospital

In a major boost to cancer treatment in Nigerias northeast, philanthropist and businessman Emeka Offor has donated a state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator LINAC machine to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, replacing critical equipment destroyed in last years devastating floods. The donation, valued at N1.57 billion about 1 million USD, was delivered following a direct request by Nigerias Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, after torrential rains crippled the hospitals oncology services in 2024. This is more than a piece of medical equipmentit is a lifeline, said Dr. Ibrahim Bako, a senior oncologist at UMTH. We have cancer patients whove been waiting for months, sometimes traveling as far as Abuja or Lagos for treatment. This changes that. The LINAC machine, used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer, will dramatically expand the hospitals capacity to treat solid tumorsespecially critical in a region still recovering from both conflict and climate-related disasters. Offor, known for his philanthropic work through the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, did not attend the handover ceremony but issued a brief statement affirming his continued commitment to supporting healthcare infrastructure in underserved regions. We must ensure that quality care reaches every Nigerian, not just those in big cities, he said. The donation comes at a critical time. After the floods of 2024 overwhelmed parts of Borno State, including UMTHs oncology unit, the hospital was left without functioning radiotherapy equipment. Doctors were forced to refer patients to facilities hundreds of kilometers awayan impossible ask for many already struggling families. Prof. Pate praised Offors swift intervention, calling the donation a shining example of private-sector partnership at its best. We put out a call, and Emeka Offor answered, Pate said during a briefing in Abuja. This is how we rebuildtogether. UMTH officials say the new LINAC is expected to become operational within the coming weeks, following calibration and staff training. Once installed, it will serve not only patients from Borno State but from neighboring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, which rely heavily on Nigerias medical infrastructure for advanced care. Offor, 66, is the chairman of Chrome Group , a Nigerian conglomerate with tentacles in oil and gas, electricity distribution, logistics and media.