Abuja medical centre earns green building certification

File photo: Health workers

The African Medical Centre of Excellence, Abuja, has secured Silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design programme, strengthening its focus on sustainable infrastructure, energy efficiency and patient-centred healthcare delivery.

The certification, awarded under the Building Design and Construction programme, recognises building design and construction practices assessed against environmental performance and resource-efficiency criteria.

Developed by the United States Green Building Council, LEED is an internationally recognised green building rating system that evaluates buildings in areas including energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials and environmental impact.

Speaking on the achievement, AMCE Chief Executive Officer Brian Deaver said sustainable infrastructure was an important component of the centre’s ambition to deliver specialised healthcare services in Africa.

He said, “We recognise that delivering exceptional healthcare goes beyond clinical expertise and advanced medical technology; it also requires infrastructure that supports efficiency, resilience and the well-being of patients, staff and visitors.

“This achievement reinforces our ambition to set new benchmarks for specialised healthcare in Africa, while ensuring that the way we build and operate contributes to long-term institutional value.”

Deaver added that the certification reflected the centre’s intention to combine advanced medical technology with infrastructure designed to support patients, healthcare professionals and visitors.

The centre’s Director of Facilities and Estate Management, Isaac Adjakwah, said the achievement highlighted the importance of incorporating sustainability and resource efficiency into healthcare infrastructure.

He said the centre would focus on effective facilities management, responsible energy and water use, regular performance monitoring and continuous improvement to sustain the benefits of the certification.

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“For a specialised healthcare institution like AMCE, the performance of our buildings and supporting infrastructure is critical to reliable service delivery,” Adjakwah said.

He added that translating the principles behind the certification into lasting operational benefits would be essential to the centre and the people who depend on its services.

The LEED framework assesses buildings against sustainability criteria, including energy and water consumption, indoor air quality, lighting, thermal comfort and materials selection. The USGBC says its Building Design and Construction programme applies to new buildings and major renovations across several sectors, including healthcare.

For hospitals, resource-efficient infrastructure is particularly relevant because specialised medical equipment, ventilation systems and other essential building services require reliable energy and water supplies. However, the certification itself does not establish the extent of any savings achieved in operating costs or environmental impact.

AMCE’s certification comes as Nigeria and other African countries seek to expand access to advanced medical services and strengthen domestic capacity for specialised treatment.

The centre, developed by the African Export-Import Bank in collaboration with King’s College Hospital, London, officially opened in Abuja in June 2025. It was established to provide specialised services in oncology, haematology, cardiovascular care and general medicine, while supporting medical research and education.

In December 2025, the centre announced that it had completed its first open-heart surgery and delivered stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung cancer, highlighting its expanding capacity to provide complex medical procedures locally.

The LEED Silver certification adds an environmental sustainability dimension to the centre’s development as it seeks to strengthen specialised healthcare delivery in Nigeria and across the continent.

AMCE said it would continue investing in facilities management and monitoring to support service quality, operational efficiency and the long-term sustainability of its infrastructure.