Omoragbon urges community to take ownership of Health Centre as NIDOE commissions facility in Edo State

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe, NIDOE, has commissioned a renovated Primary Healthcare Centre in Edo State under its 2026 Homeland Development Projects.

Speaking at the commissioning, NIDOE 2026 Homeland Development Project Coordinator, Pastor Peters Omoragbon, described the project as a milestone.

“If there is anything I am happy about today, this is the first time in four years that I am coming to my home state to execute what we have been doing in other states, and that is engaging in homeland development project,” he said.

Omoragbon, who is also a nurse and Chairman of the Health Committee of NIDOE, explained that the choice of Edo State followed a transparent process. “We wrote to six different state diaspora agencies asking for collaboration. We got a response from Edo State Diaspora Agency. We proposed five projects including renovation of a primary health centre, skills acquisition for youth and women, and 200 health insurance covers for indigenes who cannot meet their healthcare needs,” he stated.

He said the facility had been abandoned for 27 years. “When they sent the picture, it was appalling, very shameful. For 27 years this facility had no form of renovation. So we took it up,” he added.

Omoragbon credited the success to the “dedication and collaborative efforts” of Hon. Cllr. Harold Ogunfemi, Continental Chairman of NIDOE, and the project team. He noted that the project also aligns with the development agenda of the Edo State Governor.

He however charged the host community to take responsibility for the facility. “My appeal is that in the next one year, we want to see how this place is maintained. If the maintenance is not sustained, we will withdraw our hand from this place,” he warned.

The Project Coordinator disclosed that NIDOE has adopted the centre and will provide both infrastructural and personnel support.
“At the moment there is no qualified midwife, there is no qualified community health nurse. They are supposed to complement the work of other health workers. This health centre must meet the standard of primary healthcare anywhere in the world,” he said.

He added that NIDOE is proud of the governor’s leadership and is also preparing to receive him in the United Kingdom in the next two weeks.

Pastor Omoragbon however thanked Dr. Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okor the DG of Edo State Diaspora Agency for the collaborative and liaison role she played to ensure this project became a reality with the buy in of the Edo State government.