Governor Bago Reaffirms Commitment to Completing IBBU Teaching Hospital, Says Pioneer MBBS Students Will Be the Last to Transfer Out

The Visitor to Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, and Governor of Niger State, Farmer  Umar Mohammed Bago, has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to the completion of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Teaching Hospital (IBBUTH), assuring that the project will be delivered without further delay. 

He emphasized that the completion of the teaching hospital remains a top priority of his government as part of its broader commitment to strengthening medical education and healthcare delivery in Niger State.

Governor Bago congratulated the University's 41 pioneer MBBS students on the commencement of their clinical training at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, describing them as trailblazers whose resilience and perseverance had laid a solid foundation for future generations of medical students. While acknowledging that their relocation was a necessary step to enable them complete their clinical education. He expressed optimism that they would be the first and the last set of IBBU medical students to undertake such a transfer, and  assured that all necessary mechanisms had already been put in place to ensure the timely completion and full operationalization of the University's Teaching Hospital, enabling subsequent medical students to complete their entire training at IBBU, Lapai.

He urged them to approach the next phase of their training with confidence, dedication, and a strong sense of responsibility, assuring them of the Niger State Government's support throughout their clinical programme. He disclosed that construction and equipping of the University's Teaching Hospital would be completed within the next year, making it possible for future cohorts of medical students to receive both pre-clinical and clinical training entirely within Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University.

To support the pioneer students during their stay in Zaria, the Governor announced the donation of a brand-new 18-seater bus to facilitate transportation between their accommodation and lecture venues, adding that the vehicle would be specially branded for the IBBU College of Medical Sciences.

In another landmark intervention aimed at supporting the pioneer MBBS programme, Governor Bago announced a financial assistance package of ₦100 million. He directed that each of the 41 pioneer medical students should receive ₦2 million directly into their personal bank accounts, amounting to ₦82 million, with instructions that the payments be effected immediately. He further approved ₦8 million for the College of Medical Sciences and ₦10 million for Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University to strengthen the programme, improve logistics, and ensure the seamless continuation of the students' clinical education.

The Visitor charged the students to be worthy ambassadors of Niger State and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University by demonstrating excellence, discipline, and professionalism throughout their training. He assured them that his administration would continue to monitor their academic progress and welfare, encouraging them to channel any concerns through the Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, the Medical Director, or directly to his office whenever necessary.

The State Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed Bagana, formally presented the pioneer MBBS students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, to the Governor, and  informed him that the delegation comprised 41 pioneer medical students embarking on their clinical training at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, describing them as "your children" who had come to express their profound gratitude to the Governor, the Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, and the Ministry of Tertiary Education for the support and commitment shown towards sustaining the University's medical programme despite the initial accreditation challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the pioneer President of the IBBU Medical Students' Association, Comrade Jamilu Minkail, expressed heartfelt appreciation to Governor Umar Mohammed Bago for his visionary leadership and commitment to medical education in Niger State. He said that although the pioneer students experienced setbacks during the accreditation process, the Governor never abandoned them but instead worked tirelessly to secure an alternative arrangement at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, ensuring that their dream of becoming medical doctors remained alive. 

He commended the Governor for providing excellent accommodation and a conducive learning environment for the students, describing the intervention as unprecedented and a demonstration of genuine fatherly concern for their welfare and future.

Comrade Jamilu also paid glowing tribute to the management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, particularly the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, for maintaining an open-door policy and consistently standing by the students throughout the challenges they encountered. He equally praised the Provost of the College of Health Sciences and the academic staff for their dedication, commitment and quality teaching, noting that the lecturers spared no effort in ensuring that the pioneer students received the best possible academic foundation, assuaring the Governor that the 41 pioneer students would remain worthy ambassadors of IBBU and Niger State, with a promise to uphold the values of excellence, discipline and professionalism wherever they found themselves.

He further shared the inspiring story of how the Governor's approval of the MBBS programme revived his' aspirations, and dream of studying Medicine and Surgery had almost been lost after an unsuccessful attempt to secure a foreign scholarship, adding that the Governor's intervention restored hope to many aspiring medical doctors and prayed that Almighty Allah would preserve him to witness the lasting impact of the legacy he has created for future generations of Niger State.