In a major step towards improving specialist healthcare delivery in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced plans to establish two state-of-the-art liver transplant centres in selected Federal Tertiary Health Institutions, through a strategic partnership with the globally renowned Mayo Clinic.
This disclosure was made by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, who took to his official handle on X (formerly Twitter) to share highlights of his recent visit to Rochester, Minnesota, in the United States. Dr. Salako led a Nigerian delegation to the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Centre, where key discussions on collaborative healthcare initiatives were held.
According to the Minister, the engagement provided an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Mayo Clinic, particularly in areas such as advanced cancer research, precision medicine, and the promotion of health equity—not only for Nigerians but also for the wider global Black population.
The delegation was hosted by Professor Folakemi Odedina, a Nigerian-American expert in oncology and community engagement, who currently serves as the Enterprise Deputy Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Centre. Dr. Salako also held a virtual interaction with Cheryl Willman, Executive Director of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Centre, who was unable to attend in person due to a bereavement.
The Minister described the meeting as a landmark effort aimed at fostering long-term collaborations between Nigeria and one of the world’s leading medical institutions. He noted that the discussions covered a wide range of initiatives including public health interventions, clinical trials, policy formulation, research partnerships, and health infrastructure development.
Dr. Salako further stated that as part of the broader collaboration, the Nigerian government is working assiduously towards the establishment of liver transplant facilities within two of its federal tertiary hospitals. These centres, when fully operational, are expected to significantly reduce the burden of medical tourism by providing Nigerians with access to advanced liver care locally.
He also noted that the Mayo Clinic tour offered invaluable insights into global best practices in cancer treatment and transplant medicine, insights which will help shape Nigeria’s ongoing reforms in the healthcare sector.
The development has been widely lauded by public health advocates as a timely intervention, particularly given the rising number of Nigerians seeking specialist medical procedures abroad due to a lack of local capacity. With the proposed partnership, the Federal Government aims to not only reverse this trend but also position Nigeria as a regional hub for liver transplants and cancer care in the near future.
