By Amos Aar
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday performed ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the permanent site of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO) at Akwete-Akpa, Otukpo LGA of Benue State. FUHSO is the first University of Health Sciences in the entire Nigeria.
Represented by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, president Buhari disclosed that he had recently approved the sum of three Billion naira (N3b) as high impact intervention fund through the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) for FUHSO to enhance the infrastructural and facility development that will provide enabling environment for teaching, learning, research and innovation.
The president further revealed that the idea for the establishment of FUHSO was conceived since 20th May, 2015 under president Goodluck Jonathan but he, Buhari, suspended the operations of the institution among five other Universities at that time in order to make available adequate human and material resources to make the project sustainable when restored.
“I approved the lifting of the suspension order on 6th June, 2019 and I am pleased to state that the resources that have been released so far to the University for its take-off is appropriately utilized. Looking ahead, we are determined to offer a world-class University within the limits of available resources. I am confident that with the current tempo of performance, you are poised to deliver on your mandate and I am sure that this institution will produce high level medical manpower that will curb medical tourism will in no distant future,” Buhari assured.
FUHSO Vice Chancellor, Prof. Emmanuel Ujah, in an address which he tagged as “Impossibility Made Possible by the Grace of God Through President Muhammadu Buhari,” expressed delight that TETFUND has designated FUHSO as Centre of Excellence for infectious diseases for the study of Ebola, Lassa Fever, Covid-19 and other emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases.
Prof. Ujah presented a summary of the operations of the University since May, 2020 including securing approval of nine programmes of Medicine and Surgery, Computer Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biostatistics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and a myriad of other achievements so far.
In his remark, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Alkali Abba, said FUHSO has recorded tremendous achievements within two years in both administrative and academic activities. He appreciated Governor Samuel Ortom for assisting University to fulfil the requirement for Health Sciences to train Doctors.
“For the University of Health Sciences to train Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Laboratory Sciences and host of related subjects, there must be a standard hospital. While preparations were under way to build one at the permanent site, we are most grateful to His Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom, the Executive Governor of Executive Governor of Benue State for giving and ceding the General Hospital Otukpo to complement our efforts and serve as a Teaching Hospital for the University”, Alkali said.
In a welcome address, Chairman of the ground-breaking ceremony, Prof. John Idoko, appreciated president Buhari and the Honourable Minister of Education for choosing to invest in the future of improving the health of Nigerians.
In separate goodwill messages, former Senate President David Mark represented by Mrs Owo Ameh Mark and the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc. Sonny Echono, who congratulated the University on its second anniversary solicited all hands to be on deck to support FUSHO to produce the desired world-class manpower.
Earlier, the representative of the president, paid homage to the Och’Idoma, Agabaidu Elaigu Odogbo Obagaji John, who appreciated the Minister and the president for placing Idoma sons and daughters in key positions of the present administration.
Highlights of the occasion were, performance of the ground-breaking ceremony, adornment of the President’s representative in the Idoma traditional attire and the inspection of facilities and equipment at the FUHSO temporary site, Otada, Otukpo LGA.
