Our History
Since 1982
"We treat, and God does the healing.”
The Late Dr. Matthew Ewemade Aimiuwu - the hospital’s founder - was motivated to care for others from a very young age. When he was just a child, Dr. Aimiuwu lost his younger brother to bronchopneumonia in their village of Iyowa because his family could not afford medical treatment. Carrying the loss of his brother in his heart, Dr. Aimiuwu’s personal tragedy sparked a passion and fueled a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of all families, regardless of economic circumstances.
With his quest to help others at the forefront of his mind, Dr. Aimiuwu graduated from medical school, and together with his wife, the Late Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Osarhieme Aimiuwu, they founded Aimiuwu Clinic, and then Aimiuwu Hospital in 1982 in Benin city, Edo State. This husband and wife team valued human life above all else, and they treated every patient with dignity and respect.
In honour of Dr. & Dr. (Mrs.) Aimiuwu, the legacy of Aimiuwu Hospital and its remarkable reputation for putting "People First" will be upheld to the highest degree and will remain the cornerstone of the hospital’s success.
Aimiuwu Hospital is dedicated to providing quality care to everyone who walks through our doors. As was the passion of its Founders, Aimiuwu Hospital provides care specifically in the areas of General Family care, General Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Fertility, Family Planning, Pediatrics and Ultra Sound Diagnosis.
Founder
Late Dr. Matthew Ewemade Aimiuwu (1944-2008)
Born in 1944, Dr. Matthew Ewemade Aimiuwu was a distinguished student and athlete all through his primary and secondary school. He was one of the most brilliant students who passed the West African School certificate exam in flying colors at Edo college in 1966. He was encouraged by his teachers to remain in the college for the higher school certificate courses for another two years. He spent 1969 at Ekpoma in Esan land where he taught at the Anglican Gramma school, Ujoren, in order to keep himself busy before starting his university education.
He gained admission into the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in 1970. He was in the first set of students who opened the university and stayed there for six years studying medicine. He was awarded the MBBS in Medicine by the University of Benin in 1976. He was the pioneer president of the student’s union in UNIBEN. He served as a house officer upon graduation in the Central Hospital, Sapele Road, Benin City and proceeded thereafter to Kano, where he did his National Youth service at the Muritala Mohammed Hospital. On his return home to Benin City, he was provided an opportunity to practice medicine as a junior medical colleague by Dr Nosa Omoregie in Nosa Hospital.
Dr Aimiuwu soon after started his own hospital in 1982 with his Wife Elizabeth Aimiuwu. A hospital they built and served in for the rest of his life. He got the inspiration for Aimiuwu Hospital during his admission at Nassarawa Hospital following a car accident. He was fascinated by the architectural details of the hospital that he resolved there and then that he would build something similar upon his return to Benin City.
Continuous improvement was always on his mind. Dr Aimiuwu furthered his studies in Dublin, Ireland in 1984 where he obtained a Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Upon returning, he resolved that if God gave him so much, he would give services to him through assistance to the less fortunate, the families struggling with infertility, the elderly and the sick.
He was a philanthropist who never forgot where he came from or where he was going; he gave two full annual university scholarships to indigenes of his village Iyowa. Provided separate full scholarship for promising Benin residents who wanted to pursue higher education after secondary school. Provided a new roof for the local Iyowa Community Ezuwara Primary School after a natural disaster tore through the village. He helped in building and maintaining Iyowa market, served as the chairman for the Iyowa development association and patron of the Iyowa Youths Association. He always found time to mentor and guide anyone who asked for help. Created hundreds of jobs via his various business endeavors. He was the team doctor for the Samco Stars football club of Nigeria. He provided free treatment to less fortunate patients after full treatment, he extended the same courtesy to friends and relatives. He treated very many high profile people and did so with a sense of humility and dedication.
Dr. Aimiuwu maintained a moderate social profile because he wanted to give enough time to his duties at the hospital and his family. He was a committed family man, loving husband, father and grand father.
He may have passed on, but his exemplary life and what he stood for remains his legacy and he shall never be forgotten.
Co-Founder
Late Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Osarhieme Aimiuwu (1952-2018)
Born in 1952 in Jos, Nigeria, the Late Dr. Mrs. Aimiuwu moved to Benin City at a young age. As a young girl, she always had excellent grades in school. This caught the eye of her Brother-in-law, Barrister Odewingie Uwaifo, who encouraged and supported her pursuit of education, and she eventually gained admission into the University of Benin to study Medicine.
It was during her university studies that Elizabeth met fellow hardworking doctor and her future husband, Dr. Matthew Aimiuwu. At a time when it was common for young married women to take on the role of full-time motherhood, Elizabeth showed her drive and ambition by juggling her demanding medical education, a new marriage and infant children.
Dr. Elizabeth Aimiuwu embodied the modern-day definition of a “Super Woman”; she was completely dedicated to everything she put her mind to both professionally and personally. She was instrumental in assisting her husband to set up a small medical clinic, which eventually blossomed into the full service Aimiuwu Hospital that still stands today.
While the Hospital provided general family care to patients in its early days, Dr. Elizabeth was particularly interested in providing neonatal care for new babies and their mothers. She was an advocate for the human within each of her patients. She enjoyed spending time with people and listening to her patients’ stories. Through her nurturing spirit, she was able to make everyone who visited the hospital feel like a family member.
Over the years, Dr. Elizabeth mentored young doctors, nurses, medical technologists and medical assistants. She was gifted at identifying the strengths of everyone who worked with her, and provided them with increased responsibilities as deemed fit.
Despite the loss of her husband in 2008 and outlasting a life-threatening illness in 2009, she returned to work stronger than ever and more determined to help her patients. With her hard work, tenacity and perseverance, she was able to build a talented medical team, and bring the hospital back to full service. She always said, “when you love what you do, your never become complacent; in fact, you find multiple ways to continue to improve.”
Dr. Elizabeth cared about her local community and less privileged families. After the passing of her husband, she revived the Itohan Foundation, which sponsors orphaned children who show the potential to excel in their education. In addition, she had recently started providing new mothers from less privileged backgrounds with free medical care and resources for their daily needs. Dr. Elizabeth also continued her husband’s legacy of financially supporting the educational needs of the first baby born at the beginning of the year at Aimiuwu Hospital when they came of school age.
For many years, Dr. Elizabeth was a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, and served as a dedicated member of the St. Rita committee. Together with her husband, she served as Chairperson for the Harvest Celebration, raising and donating funds for the church. She also helped organize the St. Augustine’s Vocational School, which taught interested church members technical skills, such as computer training, sewing and cooking.
