By Chioma Obinna

NNPC Ltd. and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) have partnered with the Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation (BOF) to improve healthcare infrastructure and access to quality care in Nigeria.

The partnership culminated in a handover of medical equipment to the foundation in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, NNPC’s Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Oluwaseyi Omotowa, emphasised the donation’s potential to enhance the quality of care provided by BOF and positively impact countless lives. He said the joint initiative is a demonstration of their commitment to community support and improving lives, noting that healthcare is a fundamental pillar of societal development.

Omotowa praised BOF’s work in providing essential medical services, particularly to women, and expressed hope that the state-of-the-art equipment would support their mission and address gaps in access to quality healthcare.

Omotowa, represented by Mrs. Bunmi Lawson, Deputy Manager, External Affairs, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), affirmed NNPC’s belief in the power of collaboration between industry and communities. He stated that the donation, made possible through their partnership with SNEPCo, reflects NNPC’s dedication to corporate social responsibility and its commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

He also noted that the initiative aligns with NNPC’s broader objective of fostering sustainable development and empowering communities. Recognizing the challenges faced by healthcare providers, Omotowa expressed hope that the contribution would alleviate some of these burdens and enable more efficient and effective care.

He urged BOF to continue its outstanding work and maintain the equipment, emphasizing the importance of working together for a brighter, healthier future for all Nigerians.

Speaking, BOF founder, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, explained that the foundation was established to bridge the gap in access to healthcare, especially in resource-poor communities.

He recounted a personal experience of being neglected in a hospital after an accident, which motivated him to establish BOF in 2018. Since then, the foundation has performed over 12,500 free surgeries in 18 states, including procedures such as the removal of lipomas, breast lumps, fibroids, and hernia repairs.

Olowojebutu expressed gratitude for the NNPC/SNEPCo donation, calling it a testament to BOF’s impact across Africa and commending the organizations for their life-saving generosity, particularly towards women.

The donated equipment includes a dental chair, theater tables, theater light, autoclave, electric suction, surgical gloves, surgical gowns, a blood pressure machine, and a glucose monitoring device.