By Mustapha Alhassan
As part of efforts to firm up plans for the clinical training of the medical students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, officials of the Federal Ministry of Health have visited the University and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida (the proposed teaching hospital) to assess facilities in both institutions.
The assessment took place on Friday 19th and Saturday, 20th December, 2025
Speaking during the briefing session in Bida shortly after the two-day thorough assessment of facilities in the University and the FMC, Bida, the Team Lead and Director of Hospital Services in the Ministry, Dr. Jimoh Olawale Salaudeen mni, affirmed that, based on the manpower, equipment and zeal seen in both institutions, the medical training is ready to commence.
Dr. Salaudeen who commended the University’s level of preparedness also noted its world-class equipment, well-furnished dedicated medical students’ hostels and conducive learning environment. He further remarked that the presence of the University’s high-profile team during the exercise further attests to its commitment and readiness for the medical programme.
The Team Lead also noted areas for improvement by both institutions, urging them to ensure a seamless collaboration.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, thanked the Team Lead for his insightful observations, assuring that areas for improvement will be addressed. He noted that Niger State had long suffered the absence of medical training.
Prof. Kuta attributed the success achieved towards the commencement of the medical programme to commitment of the community, the state government and the University Management. He also assured that the University is ready to raise the standard in medical training.
In his remarks, the Medical Director, FMC Bida, Dr. Abubakar Usman said the only way Nigeria can overcome the manpower challenge in the healthcare sector is through the training of health professionals. Recalling that efforts towards the collaboration had been on for 10 years, he assured that the FMC Bida is the University’s most reliable partner for the clinical training.
At the University’s Main Campus, Gidan Kwano, where the team commenced its assessment on Friday, December 19, 2025, areas visited were the University store, where the recently supplied equipment for histology and physiology laboratories were kept; the dedicated vast land for the College of Medical Sciences and Health Technology; the gross anatomy laboratory, dedicated well-equipped medical students hostels; block of medical academic staff offices and the African Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety (ACEMFS) building complex housing world class bioinformatics and molecular laboratories and classrooms, all with smart boards for virtual participation.
The next day, at FMC Bida the team inspected the surgical, medical, obstetrics and gynaecological, and paediatric wards as well as the nurses’ station, radiology department, community health department, modular theatre, main theatre, intensive care/dialysis unit, chemical pathology laboratory and cytology unit.
Dr. Salaudeen personally led the team through all the areas visited in both the University and FMC Bida, inspecting all the necessary equipment, just as he interacted with the staff at each point to further ascertain the situation on the ground, demonstrating the commitment of the Ministry to ensuring that the University’s medical programme meets the desired global standard.
The Ministry’s high-powered team delegation also comprised the Director, Teaching Hospitals, Dr. Okpikpi Okpako; Senior Technical Assistant to the Honourable Minister of State, Dr. Obiajulu Ugbo; Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Peter Ejembi; Dr. Raymond Ejembi from the Coordinating Unit and Alheri Isa Gwandzang (Secretary). On the University’s delegation were Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Deputy Directors and members of staff.
Photo Credit Abdulrauf Mustapha
