Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has stressed the need for the training of more health personnel to address glaring shortages in the sector in the state and the rest of the country. The Governor gave his approval for a partnership with the Federal Government and other relevant bodies towards establishing a College of Health Sciences in Nigerian Army University Biu. Zulum made the commitment when the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Dr Awwal Bawa Moriki, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawan Bala Buratai and other management staff paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Maiduguri recently. He expressed concern over the declining number of medical professionals in the State and the rest of the country and stressed the need to encourage tertiary institutions’ to train doctors and other health workers to address the shortages. “I want to assure you that Borno State Government will partner with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army University, Biu to establish a College of Medical Sciences in the institution,” he said. He directed his education commissioner, 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 work together on a practical framework for the proposed college. The Governor noted that the project would require phased implementation beginning with establishing pre-clinical departments and complying 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 pre-clinical departments,” he stated. He approved the proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and the Nigerian Army University, Biu, to harness the clinical training potential of 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, Zulum directed the university management to submit the proposed building designs to the Commissioner for Education for assessment, noting that the state would explore support from the North East Development Commission where feasible. Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Prof. Lawan Bala Buratai, appreciated Governor Zulum for his outstanding support and commitment to the University’s development and particularly mentioned the recent donation of N100 million and the construction of housing units, which he said have greatly enhanced teaching and learning at the institution. Present during the visit were the State Deputy Governor Dr Umar Usman Kadafur, Commissioners, Special Advisers, the Permanent Secretary, Government House and other Government officials.

Posted: 7hours ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026