Edo Billionaire, Leemon Ikpea Donates 62-Bed Ultramodern Hospital To Ewatto

By Rosemary Okoduwa

Edo-born billionaire and philanthropist, Dr. Leemon Ikpea, has donated a 62-bed ultramodern hospital to his Idumu-Iyase community in Ewatto, Esan South-East Local Government Area, in a major private-sector investment aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare for residents of the community and neighbouring areas.

The hospital, established through the Agbonjagwe Leemon Ikpea Foundation (ALI), was commissioned on Monday by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, alongside the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. Designed to serve Ewatto and surrounding communities, the facility will operate as an annex of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Ikpea, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said the medical centre was equipped with modern facilities to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve the wellbeing of residents. He emphasised that the hospital belonged to the community and should be regarded as a collective asset.

The philanthropist therefore appealed to community leaders, residents and security agencies to take collective responsibility for protecting the hospital, its equipment and buildings against vandalism and damage. He also urged residents to support the Edo State Government’s efforts to improve healthcare services across the state.

Governor Okpebholo commended Ikpea for the investment, describing the project as an example of how private-sector participation could complement government efforts in healthcare delivery. He called on wealthy individuals and organisations to emulate the philanthropist by investing in projects that directly improve the lives of citizens.

The governor disclosed that his administration had recruited more than 2,000 healthcare workers and upgraded over 65 primary healthcare centres across Edo State’s three senatorial districts. He charged the hospital’s management and healthcare professionals to maintain high standards of patient care while urging the people of Ewatto to protect and make proper use of the facility.

Okpebholo also assured the community that his administration would mobilise the contractor handling the ongoing Ewatto-Udo Road project back to the site as the dry season approached, promising renewed attention to the completion of the road.

In his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, commended Ikpea, his foundation and family for investing in healthcare infrastructure. He described the hospital as a source of pride for Edo State, noting that access to quality healthcare was essential to social development and economic growth.

Pate called on wealthy Nigerians and private-sector organisations to partner with federal and state governments in expanding healthcare infrastructure and improving service delivery nationwide. He stressed that initiatives such as Ikpea’s hospital donation demonstrated how private investment could complement public efforts to build a healthier population and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.