The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commissioned 13 projects at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), to strengthen medical education, research and healthcare delivery.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, unveiled the projects on Friday at the university in Azare.
Echono said the projects reflect the Federal Government's commitment to expanding Nigeria's capacity for world-class medical education and producing the health professionals needed to improve healthcare delivery.
He commended the university's governing council, Senate, management and staff for the institution's rapid development since its establishment in 2021, saying FUHSA's growth shows what purposeful investment, strategic planning and national commitment can achieve in specialised medical education.
According to him, TETFund has provided dedicated funding for the university's infrastructure, academic development, research facilities and institutional growth.
Speaking on brain drain, the TETFund boss said Nigeria should not be discouraged by the migration of medical professionals abroad, popularly known as "japa" syndrome.
"I am one of those who hold the view that we should not worry about what many call the japa syndrome. What we need to do is to intensify our investment, as we invest to produce more medical and health personnel, some will go out of this country as part of our exports, and I can assure you the value of those exports are higher than the natural resources that we are exporting in crude form," he said.
Echono argued that Nigerian medical professionals are highly valued internationally and can contribute to national development through remittances, knowledge transfer and eventual return.
He added that institutions that utilise their allocations effectively and complete projects on schedule deserve additional support.
He listed the commissioned facilities to include modern laboratories, lecture theatres, student hostels, research centres and other critical infrastructure that will provide learning environments for future doctors, biomedical scientists, nurses, pharmacists, public health experts and other health professionals.
He recalled that the Federal Government decided in 2021 to establish six specialised federal medical training institutions, one in each geopolitical zone, to address shortages of healthcare professionals following the COVID-19 pandemic and to strengthen medical research capacity and preparedness for future health emergencies.
Echono also disclosed that TETFund's board has endorsed and recommended contracts for the establishment of eight medical simulation centres nationwide to the Federal Executive Council. FUHSA is among the beneficiaries, with projects expected to commence in 2026 and equipment installation in 2027.
He commended the Bauchi State Government and residents of Azare for supporting the university's establishment.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of FUHSA, Prof. Bala Audu, said the university has relied heavily on TETFund for infrastructure and equipment, describing the commissioned Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building — housing five departments, lecture rooms, seminar rooms, laboratories, offices and a lecture theatre — as one of its major projects.
Audu appealed for additional interventions to develop Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Sciences to expand medical training in line with Federal Government's policy to increase capacity to train health professionals.
"The investment that the Federal Government has made in this institution and indeed all the specialised Federal Universities of Health Sciences is to produce the desired manpower for health. We know this is on record, not just in this country, but internationally, that the workforce produced for health by this country for this country is utilised by every country in this world because we service many other countries," he said.
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Samuel Adejare, said FUHSA has made remarkable progress and is among specialised federal universities already graduating students.
He commended management and appealed for additional support to provide larger hostels for male and female students to address pressing accommodation needs.