For decades, Nigeria’s healthcare system has carried the weight of a growing population without a matching expansion in infrastructure and funding.
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Public hospitals, envisioned as the backbone of care delivery, have struggled to meet expectations.
Nigeria’s healthcare system has, in many ways, reinvented itself, from overcrowded public wards to the steady rise of private medical giants.
According to data by WHO, the private sector provides close to 60% of health service delivery, in spite owning an estimated 30% of health facilities.
These institutions did not emerge in isolation. They are responses to gaps, to crises filled by a mix of entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and institutional investors who have built facilities that now rival international standards.
Some were established by practitioners who had seen advanced systems abroad and returned determined to replicate them locally. Others emerged from business minds that recognized healthcare as both a necessity and a viable long-term investment.
This feature article explores Nigeria’s largest private hospitals based on scale of operations, highlighting the individuals and organisations behind them, as well as the range of specialist care they provide.
Here are the owners of the largest hospitals in Nigeria by bed capacity.
St. Nicholas Hospital
- Founder -Dr. Moses Majekodunmi / CEO Dr. Dapo Majekodunmi
St. Nicholas Hospital is one of Nigeria’s oldest and largest privately owned multi-speciality hospitals, established in March 1968.
It was founded in 1968 by Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, an eminent physician, administrator, and former Federal Minister of Health. The hospital grew from an earlier private practice established in 1952, which initially focused on obstetrics, gynaecology, and paediatrics.
Dr. Majekodunmi trained in medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating in 1941, and went on to earn postgraduate qualifications, including a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Obstetrics. He was among the youngest Africans to achieve this at the time.
Following the founder’s legacy, the hospital is currently led by Dr. Dapo Majekodunmi, his son, who serves as Managing Director/CEO.
Today, from a converted dwelling house, it operates across multiple locations in Lagos, including Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Maryland, Surulere, and the Lekki Free Zone. According to the hospital, the facility operates with an estimated 50-bed capacity; the exact bed capacity of its other branches has not been publicly disclosed.
The hospitals are known for pioneering several medical services in Nigeria. It was the first private hospital to establish a dialysis and kidney transplant centre and has carried out over 250 kidney transplants.
St. Nicholas Hospital offers a wide range of services, including nephrology and kidney transplantation, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and general medicine.
- Avon Medical Practice, owned by Heirs Holdings, the investment firm founded and chaired by Nigerian investor and philanthropist Tony Elumelu, also operates a 50-bed capacity.
Limi Hospital (100 beds)
- Founder – Dr. Lee Moses Iseko/ CEO – Dr. Remi Iseko
Limi Hospital is a private multi-speciality hospital in Abuja, founded in 1982 as a Limited Liability Company by Dr. Lee Moses Iseko.
The hospital began in Zaria, Kaduna State, before expanding into Abuja, where it now operates as a structured hospital group with multiple units,s including diagnostics and specialist centres.
Dr. Iseko established the hospital to address the need for more patient-focused private healthcare in Nigeria, building it around a model that combines general practice with specialist services.
Following his passing in December 2019, the hospital is now led by Dr. Remi Abosede Iseko, who is now the CEO Limi Hospital Group. She is also the Chief Medical Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Limi Hospital Group.
Limi Hospital operates as a multi-speciality provider delivering care across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Its facilities include the main Limi Multispecialty Hospital located in the Central Business District, the Limi Children’s Hospital in Wuse 2, and Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital in Garki Area 11. Across these facilities, the group runs over 100 beds.
The hospital’s surgical specialities offered include General, Orthopaedic, Ear, Nose and Throat, Urology and Men’s Health, Gynaecology, Paediatric, and Plastic Surgery.
It also provides cardiology and diagnostic services, supported by laboratory and imaging facilities.
Kelina Hospital (150 beds)
- Founder- Dr. Celsus U. Undie
Kelina Hospital was established in February 2008 in Abuja by Dr. Celsus U. Undie, a consultant urological surgeon.
Dr. Undie trained at the University of Nigeria Medical School, where he earned his MBBS between 1984 and 1990. He is a member of professional bodies including the Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Urological Association, Société Internationale d’Urologie, and the Endourology Society.
Over the years, he has undergone specialist training in urology, kidney stone surgery, and minimally invasive procedures across multiple countries. He performed nearly 5,000 urology and endoscopic procedures within a decade.
The hospital is guided by a Board of Advisors comprising professionals from business, healthcare, and international development, providing strategic direction on operations, governance, and long-term growth, while executive leadership rests with Dr. Undie as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Kelina expanded from its base in Abuja centre in Gwarinpa to Lagos branch in Victoria Island. The Abuja hospital contains about 50 private patient rooms, while the Lagos facility has over 100 private rooms, both equipped with surgical theatres, diagnostic units, and support services designed for specialist care.
The hospital is known for its focus on minimally invasive procedures, particularly in urology. Its services include robotic and laparoscopic prostate surgery, kidney stone treatment using laser lithotripsy, dialysis, kidney transplant, and endoscopic procedures.
Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals (150 beds)
- Iwosan Healthcare Investments
Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals is a private hospital network in Lagos owned by Iwosan Healthcare Investments, which acquired the group in 2021.
The hospitals were previously part of the Hygeia Group, which had expanded the network with the acquisition of Gold Cross Hospitals in 2017 before the transition to Iwosan’s ownership.
The investment company is led by Fola Adeola (Co-Founder and Chairman), Fola Laoye (Co-Founder and CEO), and Dapo Oshinusi (Co-Founder and Board Member).
- Fola Adeola is a seasoned banker and investor best known as the founder and first Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank. He currently chairs Main One Cable Company and FATE Foundation, and has served in several public sector roles, including as the first Chairman of the National Pension Commission. His experience spans finance, policy, and infrastructure, bringing institutional depth to the healthcare investment platform.
- Fola Laoye is part of the founding team leading the investment company. She previously served as CEO of Hygeia Group from 2002 to 2012 and later as Chairperson. She has also worked with the Investment Fund for Health in Africa and sits on several local and international health and corporate boards.
- Dapo Oshinusi, Co-Founder and Board Member, is the Founder and CEO of Mansfield Energy, with over 20 years of experience in oil and gas services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He has held leadership roles in industry associations such as the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
The hospital has different locations in Lagos after its flagship branch in Appapa; each facility runs with its own capacity. The Victoria Island hospital has about 27 beds, Apapa facility has a capacity of 30 beds. The Ikoyi hospital operates with 53 beds, while the Obafemi Awolowo facility has a capacity of 40 beds.
Beyond these, the group also runs additional facilities such as Iwosan Lagoon Clinic in Ikeja, an outpatient clinic on Idejo Street in Victoria Island, and the Iwosan Wellness Centre, also located in Victoria Island.
Their services include cardiology and cardiac surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, nephrology, and general surgery. It also provides emergency and critical care, advanced diagnostics, and complex surgical procedures.
In 2025, the group acquired Euracare Hospital in Victoria Island from Eurapharma, the healthcare arm of the CFAO Group, expanding its presence in Nigeria’s private healthcare sector.
Evercare Hospital Lekki (165 beds)
- Irfan Khan, Group CEO Evercare Group
Evercare Hospital Lekki is a private multi-speciality hospital in Lagos, wholly owned by the Evercare Group, an international healthcare investment platform focused on expanding access to quality care in emerging markets.
The group operates across Africa and Asia, investing in hospitals and healthcare systems aimed at delivering affordable, high-standard medical services.
The group is led by Irfan Khan, who currently serves as Group Chief Executive Officer. Before becoming Group CEO, he served as CEO within Evercare’s Pakistan operations and later as Chief Commercial Officer across multiple regions, including Lagos, Lahore, Nairobi, and Dubai.
Prior to joining Evercare, he held leadership roles at Mukhtar A. Sheikh Hospital in Pakistan and the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya, where he oversaw hospital operations and service expansion.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Imperial Business School, where he specialised in entrepreneurship and customer-focused strategy, graduating with distinction. He also earned a Master of Science in Engineering in Physical Science and Medicine from Imperial College London.
The hospital is a 165-bed,d purpose-built tertiary care facility, designed to provide advanced medical and surgical services within Nigeria.
Evercare Hospital Lekki delivers speciality care, including cardiology and cardiac surgery, orthopaedics, neurology, oncology, nephrology, and paediatrics. It also runs critical care services with intensive care units, emergency and trauma care, and advanced diagnostics such as MRI, CT scans, and interventional radiology, as well as dialysis, endoscopy, minimally invasive surgeries, and comprehensive maternal and neonatal care.
African Medical Centre of Excellence(170 beds)
- Dr. George Elombi- President Afreximbank
The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) is a specialist hospital in Abuja developed by Afreximbank in clinical partnership with King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The multilateral financial institution is led by Dr. George Elombi, who serves as the fourth President and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Elombi holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and a PhD in commercial arbitration from the London School of Economics, University of London, and earlier obtained a law degree from the University of Yaoundé.
Before joining Afreximbank, he taught law at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.
The facility currently operates as a 170-bed tertiary hospital, designed to deliver advanced care in oncology, cardiovascular services, haematology, and general medical and surgical treatment. It also integrates research and education, positioning it as more than just a treatment centre.
AMCE is the first of five planned centres across Africa and is being developed in phases, with plans to expand to a 500-bed facility. At full scale, it is expected to serve over 200,000 patients in Nigeria and an additional 150,000 across West Africa within its first five years.
Eko Hospital (170 beds)
- Dr. Alex Eneli, Dr. Sunny Kuku, and Dr. Ameachi Obiora- Founders
Eko Hospital is a private multi-speciality hospital in Lagos, established in 1982 by Dr. Alex Eneli, Dr. Sunny Kuku, and Dr. Ameachi Obiora as a joint medical practice.
The hospital grew out of Mercy Specialist Clinic, which began operations in 1977 and expanded across Lagos before evolving into what became Eko Hospital, named from the initials of the founders’ surnames.
Over time, the organisation transitioned into a corporate structure, becoming EKO Hospital Plc in 1991 and later EKOCORP PLC in 1994.
- Alex Eneli (deceased) was a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, known for his clinical expertise and role in early private healthcare development in Lagos. Born in 1934, he served as a Joint Chief Medical Director of the hospital and was widely recognised for his contribution to specialist maternal care in Nigeria.
- Dr. Sunny Kuku is a physician and endocrinologist, with a strong reputation in internal medicine and clinical leadership. Over the years, he played a central role in the management and growth of Eko Hospital, later serving as Chairman of Ekocorp Plc. His career spans both clinical practice and healthcare administration.
- Dr. Ameachi Obiora (deceased) was a trained general surgeon and academic, educated at the University of Ibadan and later a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. He also served as a Senior Lecturer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, combining clinical practice with medical education
Eko Hospital operates across three facilities in Lagos, comprising a 130-bed tertiary teaching hospital in Ikeja, a 40-bed secondary healthcare facility in Surulere, and a primary healthcare and diagnostic centre in Ikoyi, bringing its total capacity to about 170 beds.
They offer a range of services including internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, cardiology, and general surgery, supported by diagnostic and emergency care systems.
Nisa Premier Hospital (over 200 beds)
- Dr. Ibrahim Wada – Founder
Nisa Premier Hospital is a private speciality hospital in Abuja, founded by Dr. Ibrahim Wada, an internationally recognised gynaecologist and fertility specialist.
He established the hospital in 1996, starting from an 8-bed facility in Gwagwalada before expanding into a major healthcare provider in the Federal Capital Territory.
Dr. Wada trained at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and gained further experience in the United Kingdom, working in hospitals including Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and Bourn Hall Clinic, a leading fertility centre.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK) and the West African College of Surgeons, and has held senior roles in Nigeria’s public health system, including Chief Consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja and Medical Director of Garki Hospital.
He also holds an MBA in International Hospitals and Healthcare Management from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, and was awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) for his contributions to reproductive medicine.
Nisa Premier Hospital grew from a small clinic into a 200-bed hospital, now located in Jabi, Abuja. The hospital gained national recognition in 1998 for delivering Nigeria’s first government-authenticated IVF birth, and has since recorded over 7,000 successful IVF births.
The hospital focuses strongly on obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, and fertility care, including IVF and other assisted reproductive techniques. It also provides general medical services, surgery, and maternal and child health care.
Reddington Healthcare Group (Reddington Hospital & Duchess Hospital) (232 beds)
- Dr Adeyemi Onabowale– Founder
The Reddington Healthcare Group, founded by Dr. Adeyemi Onabowale, is a private multi-speciality healthcare provider established in 2001, beginning with a cardiac centre before expanding into a network of specialist hospitals across Lagos.
Dr. Adeyemi Onabowale is a medical doctor and healthcare entrepreneur with over four decades of experience in internal medicine and hospital management.
Its flagship facility, Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, established in 2006, is a tertiary care centre with an estimated 132-bed capacity, offering a wide range of services including cardiology, renal dialysis, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, ENT, psychiatry, and general surgery, supported by emergency care, radiology, and endoscopic procedures.
The group also operates The Duchess Hospital, a 100-bed purpose-built facility established in October 2021, designed to deliver care across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The hospital features a comprehensive emergency system with intensive care units for adult, cardiac, paediatric, and neonatal patients, alongside advanced services such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, spine care, and minimally invasive procedures.
Across its network, which includes facilities in Victoria Island, Ikeja, and Lekki, the group is recognised for its leadership in cardiac care and its focus on delivering consultant-led specialist services in Nigeria.
It also runs specialised centres such as the Reddington Wellness Centre and the Breast and Gynaecology Centre.
Cedarcrest Hospitals (250 beds)
- Dr. Felix Ogedegbe, Founder
Cedarcrest Hospitals is a private multi-speciality hospital group in Nigeria, founded in Abuja in 2008 and led by Dr. Felix Ogedegbe, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and healthcare entrepreneur who serves as Medical Director and CEO.
Dr. Ogedegbe trained as a medical doctor at the University of Benin and completed his orthopaedic residency at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.
He further trained internationally at Charité Hospital in Berlin and Newham University Hospital in London. His early career included service in the Nigerian Army, where he worked as an orthopaedic surgeon before retiring as a Major.
He has spent over a decade building Cedarcrest into a structured hospital group, expanding from a specialised orthopaedic centre into a multi-location healthcare provider with facilities in Abuja, Lagos, and parts of Niger State.
Cedarcrest operates across multiple facilities with over 250-bed capacity across its network, including purpose-built centres in Abuja and Lagos designed for specialist and surgical care.
The hospital focuses strongly on orthopaedics and trauma care, including joint replacement, spine surgery, and reconstructive procedures, while also offering services in cardiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and general surgery.
Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital (250-bed)
- Founder Folorunso Alakija
The Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital is a specialist teaching and research hospital in Osogbo, Osun State, developed and donated by Folorunso Alakija.
Alakija is one of Nigeria’s most prominent entrepreneurs, with business interests spanning fashion, oil and gas, and philanthropy. She serves as Group Managing Director of the Rose of Sharon Group and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, one of Nigeria’s most successful indigenous oil firms with major offshore assets.
She began her career in 1974 as an executive secretary and later worked with the First National Bank of Chicago and the International Merchant Bank of Nigeria, where she held roles in corporate affairs and treasury operations. She later transitioned into fashion after studying at the American College London and the Central School of Fashion in London, founding Supreme Stitches, which was later rebranded as the Rose of Sharon House of Fashion.
She has received global recognition, with Forbes listing her among the world’s most powerful women and ranking her among Africa’s richest women.
The facility was built as part of efforts to strengthen medical education and healthcare delivery in Nigeria and was later handed over to Osun State University. It operates as a 250-bed facility, designed to serve both as a treatment centre and a training ground for medical students and healthcare professionals.
It provides a wide range of services including general medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, intensive care, and emergency services. These are supported by modern diagnostic and research facilities such as MRI and CT scanning, laboratories, and multiple operating theatres, allowing it to handle both routine and complex medical cases.
SaveALife Mission Hospital
- Dr. Richard Okoye- Founder, SaveALife Mission Hospital (500-bed)
SaveALife Mission Hospital is owned and founded by Dr. Richard Okoye, a medical doctor and healthcare entrepreneur who serves as the Chief Medical Director and Chairman of the Save A Life Group.
The group includes a network of hospitals, a medical software company (Save A Life Medisoft), and the Doctors SaveALife Foundation, focused on health outreach.
After earning his MBBS from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he went on to pursue further training and built his career around advancing specialist healthcare in Nigeria.
He is credited with pioneering one of the first modern dialysis and kidney transplant facilities in Nigeria’s South-South and South-East regions. His work is centered on expanding access to advanced medical care and reducing the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad.
The hospital operates as a group with over 500-bed capacity, with facilities in Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Aba focused on critical care services such as angioplasty, pacemaker insertion, and open-heart surgeries, alongside kidney care, including dialysis and transplant services. The hospital also has a strong fertility programme covering IVF and ICSI, as well as maternal care services.
Its surgical capacity spans orthopaedics and spine care, including knee and hip replacements, minimally invasive spine procedures, and general laparoscopic surgeries, amongst others.
Note: Medical facilities like Nizamiye Hospital and Primus International Super Speciality Hospital are also part of the largest in Nigeria and owned by corporate groups rather than a single founder. As of the time of filing this report, the leadership of these groups could not be verified.
Notably, Nizamiye operates as a 55-bed facility under a Turkish-Nigerian investment consortium, while Primus runs a 120-bed hospital under India’s Primus Group.
