Dr. Shola Agbola (holding mic), explaining the various kinds of medical equipment and consumables to the officials of Enugu State Government, led by the SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia (4), during the handing over of the items
By Tony Adibe
At the age of 13, Dr. Shola Agboola lost his father to tetanus. And struggling through life as an orphan with a father, he vowed to use his skill to save lives when he grew up as an adult to prevent people from suffering the same fate of his father. So far, the Canada-based Shola Agboola Foundation (SAGA), which he founded 13 years ago, has in the last decade, reached out to 10 states in Nigeria, including countries like Kenya as well as India, where the mission is to save lives. Dr. Agboola tells his story in an exclusive interview with NewsBitsng.com Excerpts:
Q: You’re based abroad, but now you’re in Enugu. May we know your mission in Enugu?
Every time I step back into Nigeria, it feels like coming home to fulfill a promise. My mission in Enugu is to continue what we started over a decade ago—helping to strengthen the healthcare system in Nigeria by supporting the government’s efforts through donations of free modern medical equipment and hospital supplies. At SAGA Foundation, we believe that quality healthcare should not be a privilege but a right for every Nigerian, regardless of their background. Being in Enugu is part of our wider commitment to ensure that all states across Nigeria benefit from our humanitarian interventions so that mothers don’t lose their lives during childbirth, and that children can grow up healthy. My mission here is simple: service to humanity.
Q: We learnt your Foundation organised an event where some medical equipment were donated? Can you tell us more about the foundation?
The story of SAGA Foundation is deeply personal. Growing up in Nigeria, I lost my father at a tender age of 13 years old due to a lack of a simple tetanus injection to treat his infection. As a young boy, I grew up with that pain until I moved to Canada and saw how functional healthcare systems worked there. Even the smallest clinic had resources that our teaching hospitals back home could only dream of. That was when I made a vow that if God gave me the opportunity, I would do something about our healthcare system in Nigeria. I felt a moral responsibility to bridge that gap back home. In 2013, I officially founded SAGA Foundation Canada with the vision of helping to strengthen healthcare systems in Nigeria. Since then, we have been shipping 40-foot containers of advanced medical equipment to Nigerian hospitals in several states.
Q: How did the people to whom the medical equipment was donated react? What was the atmosphere like?
The atmosphere was filled with joy, gratitude, and renewed hope. The donation represented more than just supplies. They signified a lifeline – the means to save lives, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and enhance the quality of patient care. This made people happy and grateful. The effort was made possible through the collaboration between SAGA Foundation and the Enugu state government, and we are proud of the remarkable priority Governor Peter Mbah has given to healthcare in Enugu State. We have also been encouraged by the many bold and transformative investments his administration has already made in the health sector, which truly gladdens my heart.
Different types of medical equipment and consumables donated to Enugu State by the SAGA Foundation on Saturday, 30/August 2025
Q: Can you estimate the value of the medical equipment donated?
In the past 12 years, SAGA Foundation has donated over $400 million worth of medical equipment and hospital supplies into Nigeria’s healthcare system. Every container we send is filled with equipment that would otherwise be unaffordable for most hospitals—from operating tables, surgical tools, diagnostic machines, hospital beds, X-ray machines, maternity kits, incubators, oxygen concentrators, to consumables. And all of it is donated free of charge, not only as charity, but as a duty of love and patriotism for Nigeria.
Q: May we know the other places that have benefited from the donations?
Yes, apart from Enugu, we have donated to many states, including Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger, Abia, Bayelsa, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, and Imo States. Our vision has always been to ensure that no region is left behind, so we continue to expand across Nigeria and even extend our humanitarian reach to countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and India.
Q: From your experience, would you say that you are achieving the objective of setting up the foundation and making the donations?
Absolutely, yes. Our objective was to transform pain into purpose by providing hope and solutions to healthcare challenges. Today, seeing the lives saved, the hospitals transformed, and the gratitude from both patients and health workers, I can confidently say we are achieving that vision. Of course, there is still much work to be done, but the progress so far encourages us to do even more.
Q: What is your target/goal for the future?
Beyond donations of equipment, we want to be able to focus on capacity building—training healthcare professionals, fostering partnerships, and promoting innovation. My dream is that one day, Nigeria will not only be self-sufficient but also be globally competitive in healthcare service delivery.
Q: What is your advice to the institutions that are beneficiaries of your donations?
My advice is simple. They should handle these donated items with care and accountability. The equipment is not just metal and machines—they represent hope, they represent lives. Hospitals should maintain, manage, and use them responsibly so they can serve the people for many years. Remember, we are able to do this became the government of Canada trusted our foundation, and we also trusted the beneficiaries to use them for the purpose for which they were donated.
Q: How serious is the problem of tetanus as a health challenge in Nigeria? And what do you think the authorities can do to tackle it?
Tetanus is a preventable disease, yet it continues to claim lives in Nigeria, including those of our most vulnerable newborns. For me, this issue is deeply personal. I lost my father to tetanus, a painful reminder that this infection does not have to be a death sentence. His passing ignited in me a lifelong commitment to ensuring others do not suffer the same fate. The real tragedy is that many of these deaths, especially for newborns, could be avoided with better immunization coverage and safer birth environments. Authorities must rise to the challenge by expanding immunization campaigns, strengthening maternal healthcare, and ensuring hospitals are properly equipped.
Dr. Shola Agbola
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am Shola Agboola, Founder and CEO of SAGA Foundation Canada. I was born and raised in Nigeria but have lived in Canada for many years. My personal experiences of loss and hardship in Nigeria inspired me to dedicate my life to humanitarian service. The opportunities I found abroad came with a responsibility to give back to my country. Over the years, I have committed more than a decade of my life to social investment in Nigeria, channelling resources worth over $400 million to support hospitals and save lives. Above all, I see myself not just as a philanthropist but as a servant of humanity, using my story and opportunities to bring hope to others.
