TETFund inaugurates 13 projects at FUHSA to boost research

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inaugurated 13 iconic projects at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), to strengthen medical education, research and healthcare delivery.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, who commissioned the massive projects at the university in Azare, Bauchi State, on Friday, reaffirmed the commitment of the intervention agency to support efforts of the Federal Government towards enhancing medical education in the country.

He noted that the projects reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s capacity for world-class medical education and producing the health professionals needed to improve healthcare delivery.

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Echono commended the university’s governing council, Senate, management and staff for their contributions to the institution’s rapid development since its establishment in 2021.

According to him, FUHSA’s growth demonstrates what purposeful investment, strategic planning and national commitment can achieve in specialised medical education.

He said TETFund had provided dedicated funding for the university’s infrastructure, academic development, research facilities and institutional growth.

The executive secretary said Nigeria should not be discouraged by the migration of medical professionals abroad, popularly known as the “japa” syndrome.

He argued that the country should expand the training of health professionals to meet domestic needs while benefiting from their services and expertise internationally.

“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; 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.

Echono added that Nigerian medical professionals were highly valued internationally and could contribute to national development through remittances, knowledge transfer and eventual return to the country.

He added that institutions that utilised their allocations effectively and completed projects on schedule deserved additional support.

He listed the commissioned facilities to include modern laboratories, lecture theatres, student hostels, research centres and other critical infrastructure.

He said the facilities would provide learning environments for future doctors, biomedical scientists, nurses, pharmacists, public health experts and other health professionals.

He recalled that the Federal Government decided in 2021 to establish six specialised federal medical training institutions, one in each geopolitical zone, to address shortages of healthcare professionals.

According to him, the initiative was conceived following the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s medical research capacity and preparedness for future health emergencies.

Echono also disclosed that TETFund’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 the projects were expected to commence in 2026, with equipment installation planned for 2027.

The executive secretary commended the Bauchi State Government and residents of Azare for supporting the establishment and development of the university.

He recalled that the state’s cooperation had facilitated the process of securing a suitable location for the institution.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUHSA, Prof. Bala Audu, said the university had relied heavily on TETFund for infrastructure and equipment since its establishment.

Audu described the commissioned Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building as one of the university’s major infrastructure projects.

He said the facility housed five departments, lecture rooms, seminar rooms, laboratories, academic offices and a lecture theatre.

The vice-chancellor said the university also required additional interventions to develop its Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Sciences to expand medical training.

He said the request was necessary in view of the Federal Government’s policy to increase the country’s capacity to train health professionals.

Audu said additional facilities would enable the university to increase its production of medical personnel and contribute more effectively to addressing the country’s healthcare workforce shortage.

“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.

“We know this is on record, not just in this country, but internationally, that the workforce produced for health by this country for this country is utilised by every country in this world because we service many other countries,” he said.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Samuel Adejare, said FUHSA had made remarkable progress and was among the specialised federal universities already graduating students.

Adejare commended the vice-chancellor and the university’s management for their commitment to development, adding that the council had maintained a cooperative relationship with the management.

The pro-chancellor also appealed for additional support to provide larger hostels for male and female students.
He said adequate accommodation would help address some of the university’s pressing infrastructure needs.