Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has appealed to the management of the Federal University Lafia (FULAFIA), to reserve 50 percent of its admission into the school of medicine to indigenes of the state.
Engineer Sule made the appeal while handing over the Lafia Model Hospital to FULAFIA, to serve as teaching hospital for its newly established college of medicine, on Monday.
The Governor expressed confidence that such a gesture will go a long way towards meeting the needs of health institutions in the state.
Engineer Sule said the handing over of the model hospital was in fulfilment of the earlier pledge by his immediate predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, who initiated the project in 2014 and who pledged to donate the facility to the FULAFIA , to serve as teaching hospital for students of the medical school.
The Governor noted that the conversion of the model hospital into a teaching hospital, is in line with the determination of his administration to prioritize and strengthen the state’s healthcare system.
While decrying the general shortage of human resources in the health sector across the country and Nasarawa State in particular, Engineer Sule said the establishment of a medical school in FULAFIA, will serve as impetus for the teeming youths of the state to take to the medical profession.
The Governor stressed that his administration will continue to support the university in the training of medical personnel for effective healthcare delivery.
Earlier, in a welcome address, State Commissioner for Health, Pharmacist Ahmed Baba Yahaya, described the handing over of the facility to FULAFIA as historic, highlighting the priority of the Engineer Abdullahi Sule administration, which include, health, education, security and economy.
The health commissioner recounted that two other similar projects were sited in Akwanga and Nasarawa by the previous administration, as part of initiatives to boost the health sector.
Responding, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Lafia, Professor Muhammad Sanusi Liman, said the handing over of the facility by the state government will remain indelible in the annals of history of the institution.
While expressing gratitude over the gesture, the VC highlighted the numerous contributions by the Nasarawa State Government from the onset of FULAFIA to the establishment of its school of medical.
He announced that the institution has commenced the process of admitting students into MBBS, radiography, nursing, MLS, anatomy, physiology and others.
The VC assured the Governor that Nasarawa State will get more than 50 percent of the admissions.
