Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state in southern Nigeria has disclosed that the state was going to partner with a South African firm to develop a world-class hospital to boost medical tourism in the state.
Speaking on Monday when he received the management team of Group 5 Construction Company, a South African firm led by Mr. Themba Mosai in Asaba, Okowa said preliminary meetings were on to explore the possibility of building the hospital to make the state a medical tourism centre. He said the desire to make the state a destination for health services was laudable, lamenting that a lot of money leaves Nigeria daily based on health care related issues.
The governor said it was innovative for the company to source for resources for the development of the project, re-assuring that state government would find a reasonable ground to partner with them to ensure that the project was realized.
“If we have a hospital of international standard that will meet the medical needs of those travelling abroad for treatment, it will be an investment that will yield results and profits for the state.
“Investing in Delta State is like investing in Nigeria because we are one of the biggest oil and gas producing states in the country. I believe that the partnership will be beneficial to both sides and we hope to have a fruitful deliberation with your company”, Okowa told the visiting team.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Mosai reiterated the importance of such a project for the development of the state.
