Former Minister of Defence in Nigeria, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.) has donated a multi-million naira ultra modern medical centre to the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).

General Danjuma who yesterday commissioned the project – South Atlantic Petroleum Medical Centre, named after his company, South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, in the presence of the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Adamu Baikie, said the project was a major concern of the company since it had an ambitious social responsibility programme.

Danjuma was one of the first eminent Nigerians to be conferred with an honourary doctorate degree in 2005 by the university. He was accompanied to the commissioning by some of his associates including the former Minister for Information, Professor Jerry Gana and members of the board of South Atlantic Petroleum.  He said the conferment of the honour by the university in 2005 challenged him to commit the company into extending its social responsibility programme to provide the centre for the university and its environs.

Danjuma said, “About two years ago, I was honoured by the Nasarawa State University. When I was being conferred with this honour, I met the chairman of the endowment fund. It was at that occasion that I pledged to build this clinic. And I also pledged to equip it. This building was designed by the university. So don’t blame me if you don’t like it. We tried not to change anything on the building. So my architect who became the project manager, offered technical advice on how the building could be made more comfortable and as maintenance free as possible.

We in South Atlantic Petroleum take our social responsibility very seriously. When we make an offer, we insist on participating in the development of a structure like this so that the structure that bears our name will be worthy of our name”, he said. 

Danjuma also reacted to Professor Baikie’s appreciation for taking him (Baikie) to South Africa for an operation for an ailment he suffered sometime ago, saying “I thank God I was able to do what I did for you. I think you deserve it and I am happy the operation was successful”.

Professor Baikie who passed the appreciation of the university, said General Danjuma’s generosity did not come as a surprise since he knew him as a philanthropist. “This centre is in fact, more than a Federal Medical Centre (FMC). This commissioning deserves the best”, the VC said.

The Chief Medical Director of the Keffi Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Bawa Ahmed told Daily Trust the centre would serve the university and neighbouring communities, adding that the facilities planned for it would make it a model hospital.  The centre has among other units, major and minor theatres, emergency and children wards as well as out-patient department.