Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has pledged to partner with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army University, Biu, to establish a College of Medical Sciences at the institution.
Zulum made the pledge on Monday when he received the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Awwal Bawa Moriki, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawan Bala Buratai, and other management staff during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Maiduguri.
The governor expressed concern over the declining number of medical professionals in Borno State and across Nigeria, stressing the need to strengthen tertiary institutions’ capacity to train doctors and other healthcare workers.
He said the proposed college would help address the shortage of medical personnel and improve healthcare delivery in the state and beyond.
“I want to assure you that Borno State Government will partner with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army University, Biu, with a view to establishing a College of Medical Sciences in the institution,” Zulum said.
To facilitate the project, the governor directed the Commissioner for Education, the Vice-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Kashim Ibrahim Teaching Hospital, the Chief Medical Director of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, and the management of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, to develop a practical framework for its implementation.
Zulum explained that establishing the college would require careful planning and a phased approach, beginning with the development of preclinical departments and compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
“The establishment of a new College of Medical Sciences in a university is not easy. It will take us nothing less than three to four years to actualise this dream, and we have to begin with the establishment of the preclinical departments,” he stated.
The governor also approved a proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding between the Borno State Government and the Nigerian Army University, Biu, to utilise the clinical training opportunities available at the State Specialist Hospital.
“Borno State Government has agreed to your proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Army University, Biu, with a view to harnessing the potential of the Specialist Hospital,” he said.
On infrastructure development, Zulum directed the university management to submit the proposed building designs to the Commissioner for Education for assessment.
He added that the state government would explore opportunities to obtain support from the North East Development Commission where feasible.
Earlier, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawan Bala Buratai, commiserated with the governor over the death of his niece and expressed appreciation for Zulum’s continued support for the institution’s development.
Buratai also thanked the governor for the recent donation of N100 million and the construction of housing units, which he said had significantly improved teaching and learning at the university.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Usman Kadafur, commissioners, special advisers, the Permanent Secretary of Government House, and other government officials attended the meeting.
