Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu Arrives U.S., Flags Off $100m Medville City Project – Urges Diasporans to End Medical Tourism.

By Raymond Enoch

In a powerful call to action, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has charged Nigerians in the diaspora to urgently reverse the country’s growing reliance on foreign medical care and begin redirecting their talents, investments, and innovations toward homegrown development.

Addressing an audience of high-profile professionals and dignitaries at the 16th Annual Mbaise USA Convention held in Minnesota, Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared open the construction phase of the Medville Medical City—a multi-million dollar healthcare and innovation hub sited in Uvuru, Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.

The event, which drew hundreds of diaspora leaders and stakeholders, marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s quest to reform its healthcare landscape by harnessing its global citizenry.

In a press statement signed by Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister, Odumegwu-Ojukwu was quoted as urging Nigerians abroad to stop viewing the United States and Europe as “permanent homes,” and instead, see themselves as critical agents of development back home.

“By building bridges between their experiences overseas and opportunities at home, Nigerians can collectively uplift their communities and strengthen the nation’s fabrics,” the minister said in her keynote address.

The minister noted that the Medville Medical City was not only a medical infrastructure project but also a national legacy with the potential to revolutionize Nigeria’s healthcare industry. She praised Dr. Nancy Akunna, the visionary behind the initiative, for her “brilliance, dedication, and patriotic zeal.”

“This project is capable of placing the Mbaise Nation—and indeed Nigeria—on the global healthcare map,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu added.

Highlighting the Federal Government’s 4Ds Foreign Policy—Democracy, Diaspora, Demography, and Development—and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, she affirmed full government backing for the project and promised continued collaboration with diaspora stakeholders.

Representing the Abia State Government, Dr. Priscilla Otti, wife of the Governor and a native of Mbaise, hailed the initiative, describing it as a turning point in grassroots development. She hinted at potential future collaborations between Medville and the Abia government.

The leadership of Mbaise USA, through its National President Ezeji Alozie Aguwa and Chairman of the Board of Delegates Dr. Charles Iwejuo, reaffirmed their commitment to strategic healthcare and technology-based community development. They highlighted achievements including annual medical missions, scholarships, water projects, and the promotion of a digital economy through tech hubs.

Dr. Akunna, the brain behind Medville, told the gathering that the vision for the medical city was born out of a desire to offer world-class medical services in underserved rural areas.

“We are creating not just a hospital, but an ecosystem for health, education, innovation, and sustainable development,” she said.

Dignitaries present at the high-level convention included Chairman of ABC Transport Frank Nneji, Executive Director of Fidelity Bank Sir Stanley Amuchie, former Imo Commissioner for Lands Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, former Ambassador to Guinea Innocent Iwejuo, and prominent religious leaders from both the Catholic and Anglican dioceses.

As the diaspora continues to respond to calls for nation-building, the Medville Medical City stands as a towering example of what’s possible when patriotism meets purpose