The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has unveiled 13 projects at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), Bauchi State, as part of efforts to strengthen medical education, research and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this on Friday during the commissioning of the projects at the university, saying the investment reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the country’s capacity for world-class medical education and producing the health professionals needed to improve healthcare delivery.
Echono commended the university’s governing council, Senate, management and staff for the institution’s rapid development since its establishment in 2021, noting that its progress demonstrated the impact of strategic planning, purposeful investment and sustained commitment to specialised medical education.
He said TETFund had provided dedicated funding for the university’s infrastructure, academic development, research facilities and institutional growth, adding that the commissioned projects included modern laboratories, lecture theatres, student hostels, research centres and other critical facilities.
The executive secretary also urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the migration of medical professionals abroad, popularly known as the japa syndrome, arguing that the country could benefit from expanding the training of health personnel for both domestic and international markets.
“I’m one of those who hold the view that we should not worry about what many call the japa syndrome. What we need to do is to intensify our investment, as we invest to produce more medical and health personnel,” he said.
According to him, Nigerian health professionals working abroad could contribute to national development through remittances, knowledge transfer and eventual return to the country, adding that the value of their services internationally could exceed that of some natural resources exported in raw form.
Echono said institutions that effectively utilised their allocations and completed projects within schedule deserved additional support, noting that the facilities would provide improved learning environments for future doctors, biomedical scientists, nurses, pharmacists, public health experts and other health professionals.
He recalled that the Federal Government established six specialised federal universities of health sciences in 2021, with one in each geopolitical zone, following the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to address shortages of healthcare professionals while strengthening medical research and preparedness for future health emergencies.
The TETFund boss further disclosed that the fund’s board had endorsed and recommended contracts for the establishment of eight medical simulation centres nationwide to the Federal Executive Council.
He said FUHSA was among the beneficiary institutions, adding that work on the centres was expected to commence in 2026, while equipment installation was scheduled for 2027.
Echono also commended the Bauchi State Government and residents of Azare for their support towards the establishment and development of the university, particularly their cooperation in securing a suitable location for the institution.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUHSA, Prof. Bala Audu, said the university had relied substantially on TETFund for infrastructure and equipment since its establishment.
Audu described the newly commissioned Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building as one of the institution’s major infrastructure projects, noting that it housed five departments, lecture rooms, seminar rooms, laboratories, academic offices and a lecture theatre.
He, however, called for additional interventions to develop the Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Sciences, saying more facilities would enable the university to expand its admission capacity and produce more health professionals in line with the Federal Government’s policy.
“The investment that the Federal Government has made in this institution and indeed all the specialised Federal Universities of Health Sciences is to produce the desired manpower for health,” he said.
The vice-chancellor noted that Nigerian-trained health professionals served countries across the world, underscoring the need to increase local training capacity to address the country’s healthcare workforce shortages.
Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Samuel Adejare, said FUHSA had recorded remarkable progress and was among the specialised federal universities already graduating students.
Adejare commended the vice-chancellor and management for their commitment to the institution’s development, while appealing for additional support to construct larger accommodation facilities for male and female students.
He said improved hostel facilities would address some of the university’s pressing infrastructure challenges and support its continued growth.
