The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inaugurated 13 projects at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), in Bauchi State, to strengthen medical education, research and healthcare delivery.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, said the projects reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding medical training and producing the health professionals needed to improve healthcare delivery.
He commended the university’s management and staff for its development since its establishment in 2021, noting that TETFund had supported its infrastructure, academic programmes and research facilities.
Echono also urged Nigeria not to be discouraged by the migration of medical professionals abroad, popularly known as the “japa” syndrome, but to increase investment in training more health workers.
“What we need to do is to intensify our investment, as we invest to produce more medical and health personnel, some will go out of this country as part of our exports,
“And I can assure you the value of those exports are higher than the natural resources that we are exporting in crude form,” he said.
He added that Nigerian medical professionals could contribute to national development through remittances, knowledge transfer and eventual return to the country.
The inaugurated facilities include laboratories, lecture theatres, student hostels, research centres and other infrastructure designed to support the training of doctors, biomedical scientists, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals.
Echono recalled that the Federal Government established six specialised federal universities of health sciences in 2021, one in each geopolitical zone, following the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to strengthen medical research and preparedness for future health emergencies.
He also disclosed that TETFund’s board had endorsed and recommended contracts for eight medical simulation centres nationwide to the Federal Executive Council. FUHSA is among the beneficiary institutions, with work expected to begin in 2026 and equipment installation planned for 2027.
He commended the Bauchi State Government and Azare residents for supporting the university’s establishment and development.
Earlier, FUHSA Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bala Audu, said the university had relied heavily on TETFund for infrastructure and equipment.
He described the newly inaugurated Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building as a major project housing five departments, laboratories, lecture and seminar rooms, academic offices and a lecture theatre.
Audu said the university needed further support to develop its Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Sciences and expand its capacity to train more health professionals.
He said Nigeria’s medical workforce was in demand internationally, underscoring the need to increase local training capacity.
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Samuel Adejare, commended the university’s progress and management, while appealing for additional funding to provide larger hostels for male and female students.
FUHSA began operations in 2022 as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen specialised medical education and expand the country’s healthcare workforce.
