The National Universities Commission (NUC) has praised the Kogi State Government for its substantial investment in the health sector, particularly in the Reference Hospital in Okene.
The Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ahmed Ahijo, expressed this commendation during a press briefing following a facility tour of the hospital.
Prof. Ahmed Ahijo, a member of the NUC resource verification team for the establishment of a school of medical sciences at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Osara, emphasized the importance of effective management of the hospital.
He highlighted that proper management will significantly contribute to ensuring that the people of Kogi State have access to the necessary human resources for high-quality healthcare.
The team lead and Professor of Paediatric Surgery, Prof. Awwal M Abubakar, also shared positive feedback about the hospital during the resource verification visit.
He mentioned that they were impressed with the facilities and planned to visit the University before finalizing their report.
Furthermore, the CMD of Reference Hospital Okene, Prof. Solomon Avidime, explained that the purpose of the team’s visit was to assess CUSTECH’s readiness to offer medical programs.
He noted that a key requirement is the availability of a Teaching Hospital for the training of medical students. Prof. Avidime expressed confidence in the success of the evaluation, highlighting the hospital’s existing partnership with the State College of Nursing and Midwifery in Obangede.
Overall, the NUC’s positive feedback underscores the importance of continued investment in the health sector to enhance healthcare services and medical education in Kogi State.
