FROM MIJINYAWA BABA- UTHMAN MINNA
The newly established Colleiiege of
Health Sciences of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL), would compete favorably with other Institutions as a result of the state- of- the- art equipment available at the institution.
The assertion was made by the duo of Commissioner for Tertiary Education in Niger State, Honourable Abdullahi Adamu Mammagi, and his counterpart in the Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur Gulbin - Boka during a working visit to the college in Lapai.
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Speaking separately, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Honourable Abdullahi Adamu Mammagi eulogized the University Management for acquiring the equipment and expressed the confidence that the ongoing convertion of Shiroro Hotel to IBBUL Teaching Hospital, when completed would go a long way to improve health services in the State.
He said that the State Government under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago was ready to change the narrative in the health sector by ensuring that needed support is given to training of required medical personnel and provision of quality facilities; particularly at the College of Health Sciences of IBB University, Lapai.
Honourable Mammagi disclosed that very soon the Ministry in conjunction with that of Basic Education would make study of Sciences compulsory at Secondary level so more more medical doctors could be produced in the State.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur Gulbin-Boka commended the University Management under the leadership of Professor Abu Kasim Adamu for making the College of Health Sciences a reality in Niger State.
According to him, before now, it is only Niger State that has no Medical College from the North Central States of the country, describing the situation as very unfortunate.
The Commissioner affirmed that the State Government was ready to support IBB University, Lapai in its efforts to train qualified manpower for the Health sector of the State, which he said, would certainly boost primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare for not only Niger State but the country at large.
Dr. Tukur said anything humanly possible would be done to encourage the study of Sciences for development of the State.
The Commissioner who was visibly elated when he saw the 200 level Pre-clinical students receiving lectures promised to table the issue of adequate and sustainable funding of College of Health Sciences at the State Executive Council meeting to further boost activities at the College.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Tertiary Education Mallam Surajo Said was excited with the structures and facilities made available at the entire campus of the University, especially College of Health Sciences complex.
He disclosed that he was surprised to see that IBB University, Lapai has attained such level of development and underscored the need for all relevant stakeholders to put hands on deck to ensure that the University achieves maximum success.
Briefing the Commissioners, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu thanked the Visitor and Governor of Niger State, Honourable Mohammed Umaru Bago for the moral support being accorded the University since his assumption of office; stressing that the ongoing construction of the University Teaching Hospital in Minna has given more boost to the College of Health Sciences and more encouragement to the students.
He thanked the two Commissioners for finding time to see for themselves the efforts of the University Management on various academic programmes, such as the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Law which have been recently assessed by officials from the National University Commission (NUC).
Professor Adamu described the visit of the Commissioners as very timely in view of the fact that more support was needed by the College and the University in general in terms of funding.
The Vice Chancellor who led the Commissioners round the construction site of the Faculties of Law and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Senate Building, as well as the proposed Faculty of Environmental Design expressed the hope that academic activities would commence during the 2024/2025 session.
Earlier, the Provost of the College, Professor Abubakar Alhaji Aliyu briefly updated the Commissioners on the progress being achieved at the College and some teething challenges that require immediate intervention of the State Government before taking them round various Departments of the College.
He expressed optimism with the performance of the pioneer students who are now in 200 level and thanked the University Management for continuing to give the College the needed encouragement.
Professor Aliyu said that he was confident that the College would compete favourably with its peers in other universities once the current tempo is sustained.
He also disclosed that some learning materials have been received and more are being expected to arrive very soon, which would in no small measure strengthen teaching and learning at the College.
The Provost appealed to the State Government to, as a matter of urgency assist the University in recruiting more qualified manpower to enhance teaching at the College.
